Species: Ophidion marginatum, Striped cusk-eel
snout- 1 spine
A 118-124
Ophidion marginatum DeKay, 1842
Striped cusk-eel
Elongate, compressed; head compressed; head profile nearly straight from tip of snout to behind eye; snout moderately pointed, slightly overhangs jaws, with a spine projecting down towards tip; male with prominent crest on nape; 4-5 lower gill rakers; operculum with a strong, hidden spine; dorsal and anal fins continuous with tail; dorsal fin 147-158; anal fin 118-124; pelvic fins (each with 2 rays of unequal length) inserted under eye; scales smooth, elongate, not overlapping, at right angles rather than regular series, none on head; lateral line along most of body.
Grey-green above, golden on side, white below; body with 2-3 dark stripes along its entire length, 1 along lateral line; side of head with brown spots; dorsal fin pale green, with black margin; anal fin with black margin.
Reaches 25 cm.
Benthic on sand bottoms.
Depth range: 0-100 m.
New York to the Gulf of Mexico.
High Resolution Map Download
- Salinity
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- Marine
- Marine Only
- Inshore/Offshore
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- Inshore
- Inshore Only
- Water Column Position
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- Bottom
- Habitat
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- Soft bottom only
- Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
- Sand & gravel
- FishBase Habitat
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- Demersal
- Feeding Group
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- Carnivore
- Data
- Diet
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- Data
- Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
- Egg Type
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- Data
- Pelagic
- Pelagic larva
- Global Endemism
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- Greater Caribbean non-endemic
- All species
- West Atlantic Endemic
- Regional Endemism
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- Continent
- All species
- Continent only
- Extends North of GC
- GC non-endemic
- Residency
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- Resident
- Climate Zone
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- Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
- Temperate (>35N)
- IUCN Red List
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- Least concern
- Listed
- CITES
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- Not listed
- Length Max
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- 25
- Depth Range Min
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- 0
- Depth Range Max
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- 100
