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Species: Ophidion guianense, Guianan Cusk-eel

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two body profiles parallel
snout - 1 spine
D 112-117, outer edge may be dark
gill rakers 0+5-6
A 91-96, outer edge dark

Ophidion guianense Lea & Robins, 2003

Guianan Cusk-eel

Elongate, compressed; upper and lower body profiles parallel for most of length; head compressed, profile rounded; snout overhangs mouth, but not distinctly protruding, with a short, prominent, stout, finger-shaped spine projecting down towards its tip; no pores on head except for 2 near front of lower jaw; gill rakers – 2-3 rudiments above, 5-6 developed rakers below; operculum with a strong, hidden spine; dorsal and anal fins continuous with tail; dorsal fin 112-117 (109-122); anal fin 91-96; pectoral fin 19-20 (18-21); pelvic fins (each with 2 rays of unequal length) inserted under eye, short, longest ray reaching 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; outer edge of anal fin (and sometimes dorsal) dark in large fish.

Reaches 15.3 cm.

Benthic on sand and mud bottoms.

Depth range: 18-61 m.

E Caribbean to Guyana.


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore
  • Inshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Bottom
Habitat
  • Sand & gravel
  • Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
  • Soft bottom only
  • Mud
FishBase Habitat
  • Demersal
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • Data
Diet
  • Data
  • Bony fishes
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
Egg Type
  • Data
  • Pelagic
  • Pelagic larva
Global Endemism
  • All species
  • Greater Caribbean non-endemic
  • West Atlantic Endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Continent
  • Continent + Island (s)
  • Continental primarily
  • Extends South of GC
  • GC non-endemic
  • Island (s)
  • All species
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Equatorial (0-10N, Costa Rica / Venezuela)
  • Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
IUCN Red List
  • Least concern
  • Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 15.3
Depth Range Min
  • 18
Depth Range Max
  • 61