Genus: Physiculus, Metallic Codling, Codlings
no black pigment on tongue/roof mouth
PHYSICULUS
CODLINGS
Body tapering to a very narrow tail base; no V shaped ridge on top of head; snout rounded; eye large, ~1/4-1/3 of head length; chin with a barbell; no black pigment patches on tongue or roof of mouth; teeth variable, in brushlike bands, equal sized or with outer teeth slightly larger, or with distinct separation of larger and smaller teeth; no teeth on center of roof of mouth; gill openings wide, extending above pectoral fins; fins without spines; 2 dorsal fins, 1st short based and triangular, second long based, not indented; 1 long based anal fin that is not indented; pelvic fins 5-6, base before pectoral base, well separated, each with 2 long rays; tail fin separate from dorsal and anal fins, small, rounded, symmetrical; scales round, small, smooth, covering entire body and head except snout, overlapping, not set at right angles, lateral line complete; a light organ visible as a moderate sized black pit on belly before anus.
A circumgloball genus of deepwater fishes with 43 species, one entering shallow water in the Greater Caribbean.
