Needletooth Cusk, Epetriodus freddyi Cohen & Nielsen 1978


A Needletooth Cusk, Epetriodus freddyi. Source: NOAA Okeanos Explorer / NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. License: Public Domain

Summary:
A pale brown cusk eel with the head relatively darker than body, dark brown pectoral fins with a pale anterior part, other fins dark brown, the rear portion of the gill cover and abdomen dark blue. 
The Needletooth Cusk has a relatively short body, the eye diameter much shorter than the snout, the mouth ending well behind the eye, many needle-like teeth in the jaws, a short, sharp opercular spine, and two median basibranchial tooth patches 

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2022, Epetriodus freddyi in Fishes of Australia, accessed 20 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3014

Needletooth Cusk, Epetriodus freddyi Cohen & Nielsen 1978

More Info


Distribution

South-west of Shark Bay to off Point Cloates, Western Australia. Elsewhere the species occurs in the Indo-west-central Pacific: East and South Africa, eastwards to Wallis and Futuna, north to southern Japan, south to western Australia and New Caledonia.

Features

Dorsal fin 93–98; Anal fin 72– 78; Pectoral fin 24–29, rays fully joined by membranes; Pelvic fin 2, filamentous; Caudal fin 8; Vertebrae 12–13 + 39–42 = 52–54; Gill rakers, long rakers on first arch 21–23.
Body relatively short, eye small (diameter about half snout length), jaws, vomer and palatines with needle-like teeth; two median basibranchial tooth patches; opercular spine short, sharp; fourth and fifth vertebral centra modified with a lower projection. 

Etymology

The species is named for Professor N. B. (Freddy) Marshall in recognition of his contributions to knowledge of the biology of deepsea fishes.

Species Citation

Epetriodus freddyi Cohen & Nielsen 1978, National Marine Fisheries Service (U.S.). Technical Report 417: 30, fig. 45. Type locality: Southwestern Indian Ocean, 21°18'S, 36°18'E, depth 1510-1600 m.

Author

Bray, D.J. 2022

Resources

Atlas of Living Australia

Needletooth Cusk, Epetriodus freddyi Cohen & Nielsen 1978

References


Cohen, D.M. & Nielsen, J.G. 1978. Guide to the identification of genera of the fish order Ophidiiformes with a tentative classification of the order. National Marine Fisheries Service (U.S.). Technical Report 417: 1-72 figs 1-103 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. 

Nielsen, J.G. & Cohen, D.M. 1986. Family No. 96: Ophidiidae. pp. 345-350 in Smith, M.M. & Heemstra, P.C. (eds). Smith's Sea Fishes. Johannesburg : Macmillan South Africa xx + 1047 pp. 144 pls. 

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., Everett, B., Matiku, P. & Sithole, Y. 2020. Epetriodus freddyi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T137521266A137522368. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T137521266A137522368.en. Accessed on 07 October 2022.

Williams, A., Last, P.R., Gomon, M.F. & Paxton, J.R. 1996. Species composition and checklist of the demersal ichthyofauna of the continental slope off Western Australia (20-35°5). Records of the Western Australian Museum 18: 135-155.

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37228063

Conservation:IUCN Least Concern

Depth:714-1750 m

Habitat:Benthopelagic

Max Size:21.5 cm SL

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