Echiodon dawsoni
Chain Pearlfish
NS
GNR
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Ophidiiformes (Pearlfishes and others)
Carapidae (Pearlfishes)
Echiodon
Echiodon dawsoni (Chain 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 moderately tapering posteriorly, with a very short trunk, symphyseal fangs in jaws, and anus located under throat. Snout is moderately acute and slightly overhangs lower jaw. Eye is of moderate to large size. Upper and lower jaws have one or two large, curved fangs on either side of symphysis and several series of small, conical teeth posterior to fangs; fangs and smaller teeth are separated by toothless space (diastema). Vomer has patch of small, conical teeth. Palatine teeth are small, conical, and in several series. Maxilla is movable. Pectoral fin is moderately slender and has 17 to 20 rays. Dorsal fin originates over 11th or 12th anal fin ray. Pelvic fin is absent. Precaudal vertebrae number 21 to 25. Dorsal fin rays number 28 to 35 to 31st vertebra, and anal fin rays number 39 to 43 to 31st vertebra.
Color in preservative is cream to tan, with large stellate melanophores over brain, ventral margin of eye, snout, lower jaw, and vertebral column.
Distribution
Western Atlantic from Cape Cod and Bermuda to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea
Habitat Associations
Between 76 and 173 m
Biology
Uncommon species (Ref. 34024).
Max length: 11.2 cm TL.
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 other species of the family by the combination of characters described
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: of no interest.
References
Olney and Markle 1979
Williams and Shipp 1982
Markle and Olney 1990
Boschung 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.
Markle, D.F. and J.E. Olney (1990) Systematics of the pearlfishes (Pisces: Carapidae). Bull. Mar. Sci. 47(2):269-410.
Williams, J.T. and R.L. Shipp (1982) A new species of the genus Echiodon (Pisces: Carapidae) from the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Copeia 1982(4):845-851.
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 Echiodon dawsoni