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Ogilbia cayorum

Key Brotula
Collection Details

Specimens

Photos

There are no photos available for this taxon yet.

Records

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes) Ophidiiformes (Pearlfishes and others) Bythitidae (Viviparous Brotulas) Ogilbia Ogilbia cayorum (Key Brotula)

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. It may contain errors in spelling, punctuation, or formatting. When citing, please reference the original source rather than this page. Learn more about our species accounts.

Characters

Moderately elongate, compressed, and moderately tapering posteriorly, with distal section of maxilla expanded vertically, head partially scaled, and dorsal and anal fins separated from caudal fin. Snout is slightly blunt and convex. Anterior nostril is close to upper lip. Maxilla is expanded vertically near posterior margin. Jaw, vomerine, and palatine teeth are villiform and arranged in bands. Eye is small. Gill membranes are free of isthmus. Operculum has single sharp spine. Branchiostegal rays number seven. Gill rakers on first arch number 12 to 18. Dorsal fin rays number 58 to 73, anal fin rays number 49 to 55, and lateral scale rows number 87 to 90. Pelvic fin is thoracic in position and consists of two filamentous rays. Vertebrae number 38 to 44. Intromittent organs of males have two sets of pseudoclaspers, with larger one compressed and ear shaped.

Distribution

Western Atlantic around tropical coral reefs, including the eastern Gulf of Mexico

Habitat Associations

Tropical coral reefs

Biology

Maximum known size is about 70 mm SL
Internal fertilization, and viviparous
The species prefers shallow algae habitats at depths from 0 to 8 m, except for a single record off North Carolina (USNM 223537) caught at a depth of 31-33 m. A 44 mm SL female specimen (ANSP 148378) contained 2 embryos (12 mm TL) and 15 eggs (diameter 0.3 mm). A 37 mm SL female (ANSP 148378) contains 3 embryos of 8 mm TL, 1 embryo of 4 mm SL, and 10 eggs, 0.5 mm in diameter. The embryos have black eyes, but no pigmentation on head and body, probably due to bleaching (Ref. 57883). A cryptic species, locally abundant (Ref. 34024).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2013-01-29. Resilience: Low (Assuming Fec < 100).

Phylogeny and Morphologically Similar Fishes

The genus Ogilbia contains an unknown number of species that differ in details of dermal ridges and papillae on head, and in color

Commercial or Environmental Importance

Fisheries: of no interest.

References

Cervigon 1966
Bohlke and Chaplin 1968
Suarez 1975
Ogren and Brusher 1977
Cohen and Nielsen 1978
C. R. Robins et al. 1986
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.
Møller, P.R., W. Schwarzhans and J.G. Nielsen (2005) Review of the American Dinematichthyini (Teleostei: Bythitidae). Part II. Ogilbia. aqua, J. Ichthyol. Aquat. Biol. 10(4):133-207.

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