Scientific Name
Elassodiscus caudatus

Common Name
Blackbelly snailfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 49-55; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 45 - 50; Vertebrae: 55 - 60. Pectoral fin deeply notched; disk minute, almost on symphysis of lower pectoral lobes, no evidence of any bony structure (Ref. 26773). Skin colorless, with scattered melanophores posteriorly; body pale, with melanophores absent on head, denser on dorsal and anal fin bases; mouth pale; branchial cavity, peritoneum, and stomach black; pyloric caeca pale; branchial and peritoneal color plainly visible through sides of body (Ref. 26773).

Classification

Classified By

Gilbert, 1915

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Snailfishes (Liparidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Pacific

Distribution

Eastern Pacific: southeastern Alaska to Monterey Bay, California, USA (Ref. 26773) and eastern Bering Sea (Ref. 51661).

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Deep-water

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

335 m

Depth To - meters

1040 m

Zone

bathydemersal

Environment

Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 335 - 1040 m (Ref. 51661)

Trophic Level

3.31 s.e. 0.46 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

8.5 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.6250 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Unknown

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (11 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated