Glyptophidium longipes Norman, 1939
Bigeye brotula
Glyptophidium longipes
photo by SFSA

Family:  Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels), subfamily: Neobythitinae
Max. size:  26 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 360 - 825 m
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: frequently encountered on the upper part of the continental slope off East Africa, reaches south to Bazaruto Island in Mozambique. Ranges extends to Durban, South Africa (Ref. 11228).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 121-145; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 96-115. Prominent head and body with an attenuate caudal part; head bones with large, thin crests; eye equal to or greater than length of snout; opercular spine broad, flat and weak; basibranchial with 2 median and a pair of tooth patches; long gill rakers on anterior arch 21 to 41 (Ref. 34024). Caudal fin rays 7-8; stem of pseudobranchial filaments dark (Ref. 34024).
Biology:  Common species (Ref. 34024). Oviparous, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.