| Family: |
Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels), subfamily: Neobythitinae |
| Max. size: |
33 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 4480 - 4630 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Atlantic: Cape Verde Basin. |
| Diagnosis: |
This species is distinguished by the following characters: precaudal vertebrae 17-18; first gill arch with long gill rakers, 13-14; HL:HD 1.8-2.0; all head spines are strong, present on ethmoidal, lacrimal, prefrontal, interorbital, supraorbital, sphenotic, fifth infraorbital, supratemporal, inner and outer posttemporal, inner preopercular rim, none along outer preopercular rim; opercular spine is sharp, strong, extruding; lower lateral line pores until beginning of anal fin 16-18; vomer with narrow dentition patch (1-3, rarely 4 rows of teeth); palatines with broad dentition patch (4-9 rows of teeth); otolith with single, uniform colliculum; OL:OH = 1.3-1.5 (1.05-1.2 in specimens less than 20.0 cm SL); OL:TCL = 2.1-2.45 (Ref. 125143). |
| Biology: |
A deep-water species that has only been caught below 4480 m in the Cape Verde Basin off northwestern Africa. It occurs with two other deep-water species, P.mendax and P. turgidus (Ref. 125143). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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