Lepophidium robustum Robins, Robins & Brown, 2012
Robust cusk-eel

Family:  Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels), subfamily: Ophidiinae
Max. size:  23 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 101 - 261 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Caribbean Sea (from western Panama to north of Trinidad).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 123-126; Anal soft rays: 102-107; Vertebrae: 68-71. This species is distinguished by the following characters: presence of rudimentary rakers alternating with developed rakers on the lower gill arch (also only for Lepophidium aporrhox); total number of gill raker elements greater than its congeners except L. aporrhox. This species is distinguished from L. apporhox by having 14 precaudal vertebrae (vs. 12-13); 54-56 caudal vertebrae (vs. 49-53); 68-70 total vertebrae (vs. 61-66); 123-126 dorsal rays (vs. 106-115), and 102-107 anal rays (vs. 92-100), and by having a long pelvic ray length as a percentage of standard length (9-10% vs. 13-18% (Ref. 91765).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 January 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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