Indo-Pacific Barracudina, Lestidiops indopacificus (Ege 1953)

Other Names: Gray Lightless Barracudina

Summary:

A pale to light greyish barracudina with the upper body and lateral line covered with melanophores, and large unpigmented areas on thoe lwer portions of the head and abdomen.

Cite this page as:

Lestidiops indopacificus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 23 May 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/2789

Indo-Pacific Barracudina, Lestidiops indopacificus (Ege 1953)

More Info

Distribution	Off northern New South Wales, eastern and southern Tasmania, and South Australia. Elsewhere, the species occurs in the Indo-west-central Pacific, from South Africa to French Polynesia, and Taiwan to Australia. Juveniles are widespread, while adults are known only from two specimens collected from off southwestern Taiwan at an estimated depth of around 300 m.
Features	Dorsal fin 10 + adipose; Anal fin 29–32; Pectoral fin 13-14; Gill rakers 42-44; Lateral line scales 66-70; Vertebrae 79–83. Body moderately long, strongly compressed, depth at pectoral-fin origin 12.7‒13.2 times in SL; caudal peduncle short, length 1.5‒1.6 times eye diameter; pelvic-fin origin below dorsal-fin base; anus situated above or slightly before tip of appressed pelvic fin.
Colour	When fresh, body pale to light gray, somewhat translucent, unevenly covered with melanophores, and with abdomen bright white. Dorsal fourth of body densely covered with tiny melanophores; slightly larger melanophores beneath extending to lateral line and further downward, gradually becoming scattered; lower third of abdomen pale with large unpigmented areas. Dense melanophores on dorsal surface of head, anterior snout and jaws, and gular region; rest of head pale, with scattered melanophores except in large unpigmented areas on cheek and operculum. Inner surface of operculum pale with large black patch; mouth cavity pale. Abdominal ridge covered with dense melanophores (fewer and scattered in small specimens). Pectoral, dorsal and pelvic fins pale, with scattered melanophores; anal fin covered with dense melanophores except for the paler basal region; caudal fin covered with dense melanophores. When preserved, body light yellow in general, with pigmentation pattern similar to fresh condition. Peritoneal membranes and stomach black; intestine pale.
Species Citation	Lestidium indopacificum Ege 1953, Dana Reports 40: 120, figs 26, 30-31]. Type locality: Off India [southwest of Laamu Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean], 1°45'N, 73°03'E, depth about 100 m.
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Indo-Pacific Barracudina, Lestidiops indopacificus (Ege 1953)

References

Glover, C.J.M. 1994. Families Paralepididae, Alepisauridae. pp. 271-275 figs 242-245 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. (as Lestidiops pacifica)

Gomon, M.F. 2008. Family Paralepedidae. pp. 267-268 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Ho, H. 2020. Lestidiops indopacifica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T123324551A123326371. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T123324551A123326371.en. Accessed on 10 May 2023.

Ho, H.-C. & Lin, T.-Y. 2023. Adult morphology and redescription of Lestidiops indopacificus (Ege, 1953), with comments on the features of related species (Teleostei, Aulopiformes, Paralepididae). ZooKeys 1160: 109-124. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1160.103110