Otophidium omostigma, Polka-dot cusk-eel

Otophidium omostigma (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882)

Polka-dot cusk-eel
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Otophidium omostigma   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Otophidium omostigma
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Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Teleostei (teleosts) > Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels) > Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels) > Ophidiinae
Etymology: Otophidium: Greek, ous, oto = ear + Greek, ophis, diminutive = serpent (Ref. 45335).
More on authors: Jordan & Gilbert.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; demersal; depth range 10 - 50 m (Ref. 7251). Subtropical; 37°N - 10°N

Distribution Territories | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Western Atlantic: North Carolina to Florida and the northern Gulf of Mexico; also in the Lesser Antilles; extending to northern South America (Ref. 5217).

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 12.9 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 13608)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 102 - 106; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 82 - 85. A distinct black blotch present just above gill cover; two or three rows of dark brownish blotches on body; dorsal fin with blackish blotches along margin; anal black; caudal pale; snout spine situated between posterior nostril and covered with skin; anal wide, flat spine on opercle; gill rakers short (Ref. 13608).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Uncommon species (Ref. 34024). Oviparous, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205). Minimum depth from Ref. 37039.

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

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. (Ref. 34024)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)

  Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 29 January 2013

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Harmless





Human uses

Fisheries: of no interest
FAO - Publication: search | FishSource |

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Internet sources

AFORO (otoliths) | Aquatic Commons | BHL | Cloffa | Websites from users | Check FishWatcher | CISTI | Catalog of Fishes: genus, species | DiscoverLife | ECOTOX | FAO - Publication: search | Faunafri | Fishipedia | Fishtrace | GloBI | Google Books | Google Scholar | Google | IGFA World Record | OneZoom | Open Tree of Life | Otolith Atlas of Taiwan Fishes | PubMed | Reef Life Survey | Socotra Atlas | TreeBase | Tree of Life | Wikipedia: Go, Search |