Species: Macroramphosus gracilis, Slender Snipefish

Macroramphosus gracilis (Lowe, 1839)

Slender Snipefish

Body very compressed, oval, relatively shallow (depth at pelvic origin 18.6-22.1% of SL), lower body profile ~straight; head compressed; eyes large; crest at lower front edge of eye without spinules; mouth small, at front of a long tubular snout; no teeth on jaws; no gill rakers; pectoral fin with oblique base, slightly below midline; 1st dorsal fin V-VI, second spine greatly elongated, with serrated rear edge, but not reaching past 2nd dorsal fin base; 1st dorsal origin before anus; distance between bases of 2 dorsal fins > eye; 2nd dorsal fin and anal fin just before tail base; pelvics on abdomen; anal fin below 2nd dorsal; tail fin concave to convex; bony plates along flank above pectoral and sometimes along centerline of belly; body covered with small scales that have sharp ridges and spines; no bony scutes on lower body profile between pelvics and anal fin.

Adults reddish above, silvery below; juveniles silvery, back bluish-black.

Reaches 15 cm.

Juveniles to 11.5 cm pelagic; adults close to the bottom.

Depth range: 25-600 m, mainly below 100 m.

Probably worldwide in subtropical areas; The Gulf of Mexico to Uruguay.