Ophidion dromio
Shorthead Cusk-Eel
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Ophidiiformes (Pearlfishes and others)
Ophidiidae (Cusk-Eels)
Ophidion
Ophidion dromio (Shorthead Cusk-Eel)
Description
This species account was compiled from
FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version 04/2025.)
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Characters
Body shape: eel-like. This species is characterized by the following features: D 116-129 (usually 119-125); A 92-102 (usually 98-100); pectoral fin rays 19-21 (rarely 20); precaudal vertebrae 16-17 (usually 17); caudal vertebrae 50-52 (usually 51), total vertebrae 67-69 (usually 68); gill rakers on first gill arch with 2 rudiments above, 4 developed but short gill rakers below; short, blunt and bulbous head; dorsal tissue of head usually flaccid, inflated; subterminal mouth; dorsal and ventral profiles of body nearly parallel for much of its length; unmarked body; short and unequal pelvic-fin rays, longer reaching under anterior third of opercle (Ref. 81834).
Distribution
Western Atlantic: USA. off Colombia, Venezuela and Guyana.
Habitat Associations
Marine. benthopelagic. depth range 51-183 m.
Biology
Occurs over sand and mud bottom (Ref. 81834). Reproductive strategy possibly similar to other members of this family featuring oviparity, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205).
Max length: 14.6 cm SL.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2013-01-29. Resilience: High (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Lea, R.N. and C.R. Robins (2003) Four new species of the genus Ophidion (Pisces: Ophidiidae) from the western Atlantic Ocean. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Scientific Papers No. 31:1-9.
Comments On Ophidion dromio