Species: Bregmaceros houdei, Stellate Codlet

Bregmaceros houdei Saksena & Richards, 1986

Stellate Codlet

Elongate body; top half of small eye with transparent membrane; mouth opens at front; jaws with 1-2 series of minute, slender, movable teeth, similar teeth at from of roof of mouth, no teeth on sides of roof of mouth; 1st dorsal fin a single long dorsal fin ray on head, well separated from rest of fin, that folds into a groove when depressed; 2nd dorsal fin with long base, lower, I, 40-44 visible rays; anal fin similar to and directly under 2nd dorsal fin, 41-46 visible rays; pectorals short, high on sides, 17-19 rays; pelvic fins on throat under operculum, inner 3-4 rays branched and short, outer 3 rays free, very long, fit into groove along abdomen and side of anal fin; scales thin, small, smooth; lateral line high on back along each side of dorsal fin base.

Transparent; dark dots on front half of body.

Reaches 1.8 cm (known only from juveniles).

Pelagic.

Depth range: 0-611 m.

SE USA, the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.