Ophidion josephi Girard, 1858

Del Moral-Flores, Luis Fernando, Rodriguez-Gonzalez, Janeth & Jimenez-Badillo, Maria de Lourdes, 2022, First report of crested cusk-eel, Ophidion josephi (Actinopterygii: Ophidiiformes: Ophidiidae), in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 52 (3), pp. 189-194 : 189

Ophidion josephi Girard, 1858

Fig. 2

New records.

MEXICO • 7 specimens (177-212 mm SL); Las Barrancas, Alvarado, Veracruz; 19°00′24′′N, 095°57′52′′W; 15 Nov. 2018; Pedro Ramon Roman leg.; CIFI-222 • 5 specimens (198-213 mm SL); Las Barrancas, Alvarado, Veracruz; 19°00′24′′N, 095°57′52′′W; 15 Nov. 2019; Pedro Ramon Roman leg.; CIFI-1417 • 5 cleared specimens (182-230 mm SL); Las Barrancas, Alvarado, Veracruz; 19°00′24′′N, 095°57′52′′W; 18 Oct. 2020; Pedro Ramon Roman leg.; CIFI 1649 • 1 specimen (198 mm SL); Las Barrancas, Alvarado, Veracruz; 19°00′24′′N, 095°57′52′′W; 27 Sep. 2021; Pedro Ramon Roman leg.; CIFI-1907.

Identification.

The Mexican specimens of Ophidion josephi measured 177-213 mm SL and weighed 40.0-67.5 g (Fig. 2 ). The morphometric and meristic data are reported in Tables 1 and 2 , respectively.

Description.

Dorsal fin rays: 139-147; anal fin rays: 108-117; pectoral fin rays: 21-23; pelvic fin rays: 2; caudal fin rays: 9; branchiostegal 7; gill rakers total: 7; and trunk vertebrae total 16, and caudal vertebrae number 50 to 52. Elongate body covered with diminutive elongated cycloid scales, except for cephalic region. Identified by following combination of characteristics: short blunt snout (3.3%-4.4% of SL), slightly subterminal mouth, maxilla ending behind orbital margin. Moderate eye size, its length approximating that of snout (3.3%-4.3% SL). Five to four gill rakers on lover limb. Head length 17.9%-19.5% SL, with straight dorsal profile or in males strong crest, in straight line over preopercular region. Strong supraopercular spine covered by dermal fold. Pectoral fins shorter than head (57.5%-70% HL), round in shape, its coloration intense yellow, and in some cases, black. Distal margin of dorsal and anal fin black; that of anal fin wider. Predorsal fin length 24.7% to 27.4% in SL and its origin on middle part of pectoral fin. Yellow body coloration, some brown regions. Ventral part slightly lighter that dorsal one. Base of dorsal fin black along its entire length, becoming fainter near caudal fin. Three rows of dark spots on sides, upper one continuous, remaining ones interrupted and blurred. Body covered with cycloid and elongate scales, having basket-shaped pattern.

Diagnosis.

This species is distinguished from its congeners by having three to four rows of spots usually fused into a solid stripe, with a distinct crest on the spots; and a swollen nape or crest.

Figures

Figure 2. The Mexican specimen of Ophidion josephi, CIFI- 222. A) An adult female, 181 mm SL. B) An adult male, 212 mm SL, the arrow points to the typical supraoccipital ridge of males. C) Arrangements of scales in body side. D) Radiographs of three specimens, 182 - 230 mm SL (CIFI- 1949).