Lepophidium negropinna — Details

Specklefin Cusk Eel learn more about names for this taxon

Overview

Comprehensive Description

Description

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Common names: cusk-eel (English), congriperla (Espanol)
 
Lepophidium negropinna Hildebrand & Barton, 1949

Speckled cusk-eel,     Speckle-fin cusk-eel

Elongate, eel-like; head low, compressed; tail compressed, tapering to a point; head long, low, as wide as high at preopercle; snout spine prominent, reaching well beyond tip of top jaw; eye ~ 1/5 head length; mouth large, broad, nearly horizontal; top jaw ends well beyond eye; teeth on jaws small, simple, in bands; no tooth patch on base of gill arches;  17 gill rakers; opercle with concealed spine; dorsal origin a little behind base of pectoral; pectoral long, reaching over ½ way to anal fin; dorsal ~ 128 rays; anal ~ 114 rays; dorsal and anal fins low, confluent with tail; each pelvic is a pair of small threads inserted under eye; scales round, small, in regular rows, on head extending to between or before eyes, on cheeks and opercle, ~ 225 in lateral series.


Body uniform dark brown, a little paler below; inside of gill chamber pale; margin of dorsal fin black, inner part light with many small dark spots and streaks; tail and anal fins blackish; pelvics pale; pectoral a little darker than body.

Size: 52 cm.

Habitat: demersal on soft bottoms.

Depth: 20-390 m.

Southern Baja and the Gulf of California; Costa Rica to Chile.

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Biology

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Common species (Ref. 34024). Adults inhabit soft bottoms, from shallow waters to moderate depths (Ref. 9329). Oviparous, with planktonic larvae (Ref. 36413). Oval, pelagic eggs float in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205).
  • Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins 1999 FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 18. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(18):178p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 34024)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=34024&speccode=17075 External link.
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Distribution

Range Description

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This species is endemic to the Eastern Pacific. It has a disjunct distribution, as it is found from central Baja California and the Gulf of California to Nayarit, Mexico and from Costa Rica to northern Peru.
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Depth

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Depth Range (m): 20 (S) - 390 (S)
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Zoogeography

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See Map (including site records) of Distribution in the Tropical Eastern Pacific


 
Global Endemism: All species, East Pacific endemic, Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) endemic

Regional Endemism: All species, TEP endemic, Continental TEP endemic, 3 provinces (Cortez + Mexican + Panamic) endemic, Continent, Continent only

Residency: Resident

Climate Zone: North Temperate (Californian Province &/or Northern Gulf of California), Northern Subtropical (Cortez Province + Sinaloan Gap), Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo), South Temperate (Peruvian Province )

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Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California, outer coast of Baja California, and off northwestern South America.
  • Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins 1999 FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 18. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(18):178p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 34024)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=34024&speccode=17075 External link.
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Physical Description

Morphology

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Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 138 - 148; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 116 - 121; Vertebrae: 75 - 77
  • Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins 1999 FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 18. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(18):178p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 34024)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=34024&speccode=17075 External link.
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Size

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Length max (cm): 52.0 (S)
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Size

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Maximum size: 475 mm SL
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Max. size

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50.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 55763))
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Diagnostic Description

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Rostral spine long and curved, reaching tip of snout, without vertical basal component; peritoneum pale; no median basibranchial tooth patch; head extensively covered with imbricate rows of cycloid scales except for snout and throat; body tapering to point, dagger-shaped (Ref. 34024). Dorsal fin with dark margin and dark mottling or spots throughout the fin; precaudal vertebrae 15-17, caudal vertebrae 59-64 (Ref. 34024). Pelvic fin consists of one ray with two branches of unequal length (Ref. 36413).
  • Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins 1999 FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 18. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(18):178p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 34024)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=34024&speccode=17075 External link.
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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology
This demersal species inhabits soft substrate.

Systems
  • Marine
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Depth range based on 8 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 2 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 45 - 265
  Temperature range (°C): 14.235 - 17.137
  Nitrate (umol/L): 31.396 - 31.660
  Salinity (PPS): 34.789 - 34.888
  Oxygen (ml/l): 0.376 - 0.771
  Phosphate (umol/l): 2.171 - 2.256
  Silicate (umol/l): 19.691 - 23.940

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 45 - 265

Temperature range (°C): 14.235 - 17.137

Nitrate (umol/L): 31.396 - 31.660

Salinity (PPS): 34.789 - 34.888

Oxygen (ml/l): 0.376 - 0.771

Phosphate (umol/l): 2.171 - 2.256

Silicate (umol/l): 19.691 - 23.940
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
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Depth: 25 - 237m.
From 25 to 237 meters.

Habitat: demersal. Inhabits soft bottoms, from shallow waters to moderate depths.
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Habitat

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Salinity: Marine, Marine Only

Inshore/Offshore: Inshore, Inshore Only

Water Column Position: Bottom, Bottom only

Habitat: Soft bottom (mud, sand,gravel, beach, estuary & mangrove), Soft bottom only, Mud, Sand & gravel

FishBase Habitat: Demersal
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Environment

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demersal; marine; depth range 40 - 390 m (Ref. 34024)
  • Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins 1999 FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 18. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(18):178p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 34024)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=34024&speccode=17075 External link.
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Trophic Strategy

Feeding

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Feeding Group: Carnivore

Diet: mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs), bony fishes
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Life History and Behavior

Life Cycle

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Oviparous (Ref. 36413).
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Reproduction

Reproduction

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Egg Type: Pelagic, Pelagic larva
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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment

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Red List Category
LC
Least Concern

Red List Criteria

Version
3.1

Year Assessed
2010

Assessor/s
Lea, B., Béarez, P., McCosker, J.

Reviewer/s
Carpenter, K., Polidoro, B., Livingstone, S. (Global Marine Species Assessment Team)

Contributor/s

Justification
This species is widespread in the Eastern Pacific, and is common throughout its range. There are no known major threats to this species, and no current indication of population decline from commercial fisheries. It is listed as Least Concern.
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Conservation status

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IUCN Red List: Not evaluated / Listed

CITES: Not listed
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Population

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Population
There is no population information available for this species, although it is considered to be common throughout its range (Nielsen et al. 1999).

Population Trend
Unknown
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Threats

Threats

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Major Threats
There are no major threats known for this species.
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Least Concern (LC)
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Management

Conservation Actions

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Conservation Actions
There are no known conservation measures for this species. However, this species distribution falls partially into a number of Marine Protected Areas (WDPA 2006).
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems

Benefits

Importance

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fisheries: of potential interest
  • Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins 1999 FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 18. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(18):178p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 34024)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=34024&speccode=17075 External link.
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