Key to Atlantic species of Lucifuga
1 Caudal finrays 8; total vertebrae 45–48 (not known for L. teresinarum); eye diameter 0.0–0.3 % SL, Cuban Lucifuga spp ............................................................................... 2
Caudal finrays 10; total vertebrae 50–55; eye diameter 0.7–1.8 % SL; Bahamian Lucif uga spp .. ........................................................................................................................ 5
2 Palatine teeth present..................................................................................................... 3
Palatine teeth absent ...................................................................................................... 4
3 Dorsal finrays 83–95, ratio otolith length to sulcus length <2.8 .................... L. dentata
Dorsal finrays 70–78, ratio otolith length to sulcus length> 3.5 ...................... L. simile
4 Dorsal finrays 80–86; pectoral finrays 12–14 .......................................... L. subterranea
Dorsal finrays 78–80; pectoral finrays 10–11. ......................................... L. teresinarum
5 Lateral occipital area naked, palatine teeth present; long gillrakers usually dark ......... .................................................................................................................... L. spelaeotes
Lateral occipital area scaled, palatine teeth absent; long gillrakers pale ....................... ............................................................................................................. L. lucayana n. sp.