Pale Cusk, Neobythites pallidus Nielsen 1997

Summary:

A uniformly pale cusk eel with dark blotches or vertical bands on the body, and no ocelli.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2024, Neobythites pallidus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 10 Sep 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/4590

Pale Cusk, Neobythites pallidus Nielsen 1997

More Info

Distribution	South of Saumarez Reef, Saumarez Plateau, Coral Sea, to off Point Hicks, Victoria. Elsewhere the species occurs in the south-west Pacific (New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji). Benthopelagic on the upper continental slope.
Features	Dorsal fin 97-101; Anal fin 82-86; Gill rakers 14-16 (long rakers); Pseudobranch filaments 4-6; Vertebrae 58-60. Preoperculum with two spines on hind margin; longest gill filaments on anterior arch 2.8-4.8 % head length.
Similar Species	Differs from all other Neobythites species in having the following combination of characters: Dorsal fin-rays 97-101, anal-fin rays 82-86, two spines on hind margin of preoperculum, 14-16 long rakers on anterior gill arch, 4-6 pseudobranchial filaments, longest gill filaments on anterior arch 2.8-4.8 % head length, no ocelli, dark blotches or vertical bands on body.
Etymology	The specific name is from the Latin pallidus (= pale, pallid), in reference to the uniformly pale, light-brown coloration of this species.
Species Citation	Neobythites pallidus Nielsen 1997, Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle 174: 68, fig. 15a, b. Type data: New Caledonia, 18°49.4'S, 163°18.8'E, depth 590 m.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2024
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Pale Cusk, Neobythites pallidus Nielsen 1997

References

Fricke, R., Kulbicki, M. & Wantiez, L. 2011. Checklist of the fishes of New Caledonia, and their distribution in the Southwest Pacific Ocean (Pisces). Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde. Serie A (Biologie) Neue Serie 4: 341-463

Günther, A. 1887. Report on the deep-sea fishes collected by H.M.S Challenger during the years 1873–1876. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger 1873–1876, Zoology 22(57): 1-268 figs 1-7 pls 1-66 (in part as Neobythites macrops, paralectotype only).

Nielsen, J.G. 1997. Deepwater ophidiiform fishes from off New Caledonia with six new species. In, Séret, B. (ed.) Résultats des Campagnes MUSORSTOM, v. 17. Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris 174: 51-82 See ref at BHL

Nielsen, J.G. 2002. Revision of the Indo-Pacific species of Neobythites (Teleostei, Ophidiidae), with 15 new species. Galathea Report 19: 5-104 91 figs See ref online

Nielsen, J.G., Cohen, D.M., Markle, D.F. & Robins, C.R. 1999. Ophidiiform Fishes of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform species known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125 Vol. 18. 178 pp. See ref online

Nielsen. J.G. 1999. Families Carapidae, Ophidiidae, Bythitidae, Aphionidae. pp. 1978-1985 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068.

Uiblein, F., Williams, A., Everett, B., Matiku, P. & Sithole, Y. 2020. Neobythites pallidus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T141358263A141807413. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T141358263A141807413.en. Accessed on 12 September 2023.