Species: Ophidion imitator, Double-spotted cusk-eel, Mimic cusk-eel
Ophidion imitator Lea, 1997
Mimic cusk-eel, Double-spotted cusk-eel
Elongate, compressed, greatest depth 6.8-7.2 in SL; head compressed; a small bony bump at tip of snout; operculum with a strong, skin covered spine at its upper corner; 12-15 gill rakers, lower 9-12 relatively long; dorsal and anal fins continuous with tail; dorsal rays 135-163; anal rays 112-139; pectoral rays 25-28; pelvic fins each with 2 thread-like rays of unequal length, inserted under eye; scales smooth, elongate, not overlapping, at right angles rather than regular series, none on head.
Generally grey with 2-3 series of alternating dark brown spots along upper body; outer edge of front part of dorsal fin black; anal fin blackish.
Size: grows to at least 20 cm.
Habitat: sand and mud bottoms at 18-232 m.
Depth: 20-230 m.
The mouth of the Gulf of California to Panama.
High Resolution Map Download
- Salinity
-
- Marine Only
- Marine
- Inshore/Offshore
-
- Inshore
- Inshore Only
- Water Column Position
-
- Bottom
- Bottom only
- 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
- No Data
- Diet
-
- No Data
- Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
- Bony fishes
- Phytoplankton
- Egg Type
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- Pelagic larva
- No data
- Pelagic
- Global Endemism
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- Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) endemic
- All species
- East Pacific endemic
- Regional Endemism
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- All species
- Continental TEP endemic
- Continent
- Continent only
- 3 provinces (Cortez + Mexican + Panamic) endemic
- TEP endemic
- Residency
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- Resident
- Climate Zone
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- Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo)
- Northern Tropical (Mexican Province to Nicaragua + Revillagigedos)
- Northern Subtropical (Cortez Province + Sinaloan Gap)
- IUCN Red List
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- Listed
- Least concern
- CITES
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- Not listed
- Length Max
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- 20
- Depth Range Min
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- 20
- Depth Range Max
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- 230
