Carapus bermudensis
Pearlfish
NS
GNR
Collection Details
Specimens
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Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Ophidiiformes (Pearlfishes and others)
Carapidae (Pearlfishes)
Carapus
Carapus bermudensis (Pearlfish)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
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Characters
Elongate and uniformly tapering posteriorly, with a very short trunk and anus located under throat. Snout is moderately acute and slightly overhangs lower jaw. Eye is of moderate size. Premaxillary teeth are small, conical, and in several series, with innermost along anterior one-third of length slightly enlarged and slightly recurved, and outermost cardiform. Innermost teeth of lower jaw are short, blunt, and in several rows, and outermost are enlarged and conical. Vomer has median row of five to nine large teeth flanked by row of short, blunt teeth. Palatine teeth are short, blunt, and progressively smaller from front to back. Maxilla is free and movable. Pectoral fin is slender and has 17 to 20 rays. Dorsal fin originates over 17th to 25th anal ray. Pelvic fin is absent. Precaudal vertebrae number 17 or 18. Dorsal fin rays to 31st vertebra number 36 to 45, and anal fin rays to 31st vertebra number 53 to 62.
Color in life is translucent with silvery bands along flank, with vertebral column pigmented and silvery patch on cheek. Color in preservative is tan, with stellate melanophores on cheek, at pectoral fin base, and along side and tail. Large melanophores form saddlelike patterns dorsally from nape to tip of tail.
Distribution
Western Atlantic from the Carolinas and Bermuda to central Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.
Habitat Associations
Shallow grass beds to 34 m, and deep-water habitats between 48 and 235 m.
Occupies the body cavity of sea cucumbers during the day.
Biology
Forages during the night.
Maximum known size is 197 mm SL and 26.1 mm head length.
Common species (Ref. 34024). Occurs in or near shallow seagrass beds. Lives in body cavity of sea cucumbers during daytime and leaves host at night. Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 34024.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2012-08-21.
Phylogeny and Morphologically Similar Fishes
Distinguished from the other species of the family by the combination of characters described.
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: of no interest.
References
Smith and Tyler 1969
Dawson 1971b
Haburay et al. 1974
Hoese and Moore 1977
Trott 1981
C. R. Robins et al. 1986
Markle and Obey 1990
Boschung 1992
Tyler et al. 1992
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Thresher, R.E. (1984) Reproduction in reef fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Ltd., Neptune City, New Jersey. 399 p.
Lieske, E. and R. Myers (1994) Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
Randall, J.E. (1996) Caribbean reef fishes. Third Edition - revised and enlarged. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Ltd., Hong Kong. 3nd ed. 368 p.
Smith, C.L. (1997) National Audubon Society field guide to tropical marine fishes of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York. 720 p.
Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins (1999) 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.
Comments On Carapus bermudensis