Common Name
Plain Pink Cusk-eel
Year Described
Regan, 1903
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 132-137
Anal Fin: 101-109
Pectoral Fin: 22-25
Caudal Fin:
Pelvic Fin: 2
Gill Rakers: 4-6 well developed rakers on first arch (8 total)
Vertebrae: 67-71 total
Body elongate and robust, tapering gradually to the tail. Head very large. Snout longer than eye diameter. No obvious rostral spine. Eye large. Mouth large and rear edge of maxilla extending to rear margin of orbit. Caniform teeth in jaws. Pelvic fins on throat under eye. Body and head fully scaled. 3-6 dorsal and 1-3 ventral pyloric caeca.
Color
Body and head uniformly pinkish grading to silvery white on the sides and white on the belly. No obvious spots or mottling. Fins pinkish with darker margins.
Size
Maximum size to 130cm SL.
Habitat
Found at a wide variety of depths and substrates from 60-200m. Larger adults are captured deeper than juveniles.
Range
Southwestern Atlantic: southern Brazil to northern Argentina.
References
Carvalho-Filho, A. 2023. Fishes of the Brazilian coast. Literare Books International, São Paulo: 1-424.
Mabragana, E., J. M. Díaz de Astarloa, J. Hanner, R., Zhang, & M. Gonzalez Castro. 2011. DNA barcoding identifies Argentine fishes from marine and brackish waters. PLoS One, 6(12), e28655.
Nielsen, J. G., D. M. Cohen, D. F. Markle and C. R. Robins. 1999. FAO species catalogue. Volume 18. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) Fisheries Synopsis No. 125: i-xi + 1-178.
Other Notes
Although considered a plain color morph of Genypterus blacodes, genetic studies (Mabragana et al., 2011) show that there are two species of Genypterus in the southwestern Atlantic. The entire genus needs a revision.