Bearded brotula (Brotula barbata)

Scientific name: Brotula barbata Bloch & Schneider, 1801

Bearded brotula (Brotula barbata)

The Bearded brotula (Brotula barbata) is a marine fish of the family Ophidiidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 109-117; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 86 - 90. Body completely covered with small, imbricate, cycloid scales; barbels present on snout (6) and chin (6); branchiostegal rays 8; median basibranchial tooth patch absent; developed gill rakers on first arch 4 or fewer; pelvic fin rays inserted at about level of preopercle, well behind eye. Ventral fins dark, gradually becoming darker at the extreme blackish edge.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Brotula barbata
Family
Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels)
Order
Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
94.0
Common length
50.0
Depth range
650 m (2133 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range ? - 650 m, usually 50 - 300 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Western Atlantic: off the continental coast from Florida, USA and the Gulf of Mexico to northern South America, including islands in the Caribbean. Eastern Atlantic: off Senegal to Angola.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.19)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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