Species: Ophidion antipholus, Longnose Cusk-eel
2 body profiles parallel
rear top skull dark
A 94-103
LL in dark stripe

Ophidion antipholus Lea & Robins, 2003
Longnose Cusk-eel
Elongate, compressed; upper and lower body profiles parallel for most of length; head compressed, profile rounded; snout distinctly protruding beyond and overhanging mouth, with a short, prominent, stout, finger-shaped spine projecting downwards towards its tip; no pores on head except for 2 near front of lower jaw; gill rakers – 2 rudiments above, 5-6 (4-7) developed rakers below; operculum with a strong, hidden spine; dorsal and anal fins continuous with tail; dorsal fin 116-123 (111-133); anal fin 94-103; pectoral fin 18-19 (18-21); pelvic fins (each with 2 rays of unequal length) inserted under eye, short, longest ray reaching to level under front edge to center of operculum; scales smooth, elongate, not overlapping, at right angles rather than regular series, none on head; lateral line along most of body.
Uniform pale brown; top of head with rear of skull broadly outlined in dark pigment; may have a dark streak along the lateral line; outer edges of dorsal and anal fins black, particularly at front of dorsal and all of anal.
Reaches 25.1 cm.
Benthic on sand and mud bottoms.
Depth range: 10-69 m, usually 15-40 m.
S Carolina to the E Caribbean.

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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- Sand & gravel
- Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
- Soft bottom only
- Mud
- FishBase Habitat
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- Demersal
- Feeding Group
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- Carnivore
- Data
- Diet
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- Data
- Bony fishes
- Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
- Egg Type
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- Data
- Pelagic
- Pelagic larva
- Global Endemism
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- All species
- Greater Caribbean endemic
- West Atlantic Endemic
- Regional Endemism
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- Continent
- Continent + Island (s)
- Continental primarily
- Extends North of GC
- GC endemic
- Island (s)
- All species
- Residency
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- Resident
- Climate Zone
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- Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
- Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
- IUCN Red List
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- Least concern
- Listed
- CITES
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- Not listed
- Length Max
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- 25.1
- Depth Range Min
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- 10
- Depth Range Max
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- 69