Year Described
Goode & Bean, 1885
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 93
Anal Fin: 73
Pectoral Fin: 17
Caudal Fin: 6
Pelvic Fin: 2
Gill Rakers: 18 well developed on lower first arch
Vertebrae: 17-19 precaudal
Body elongate, robust and tapering posteriorly. Tail long and slender. Head large and flattened with greatest body depth around pectoral fin base. No spines on head. Snout short and blunt. Mouth inferior and very large, extending well past orbit. Teeth in jaws, vomer and palatines. Two median basibranchial tooth patches. Eye large. Preopercle smooth. Opercular spine small and buried in skin. Dorsal and anal fins continuous with tail. Tail elongated. Pectoral fins large with filamentous and thickened lower rays. Pelvic fins filamentous. Body and head covered in small scales. Branchiostegals 8-9.
Color
Preserved fish uniformly brown with darker gill covers. Originally described as yellow-brown with a darker head.
Size
Maximum size to 220mm SL.
Habitat
Usually found from 604-2615m, but as deep as 4600m.
Range
The Gulf of Mexico to the S. Caribbean.
References
Goode, G. B. & T. H. Bean. 1885. Descriptions of new fishes obtained by the United States Fish Commission mainly from deep water off the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Proceedings of the United States National Museum v. 8 (no. 543): 589-605. [Also as separate, Washington (1886).]
McEachran, J. D. & J. D. Fechhelm. 1998. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. Volume 1: Myxiniformes to Gasterosteiformes. Univ. of Texas Press, Austin. 1-1112.
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
A revision of the genus Bathyonus is needed as the species are not well diagnosed.