Mimic cusk-eel (Ophidion imitator)

Scientific name: Ophidion imitator Lea, 1997

Mimic cusk-eel (Ophidion imitator)

The Mimic cusk-eel (Ophidion imitator) is a marine fish of the family Ophidiidae. Native range: Eastern Central Pacific, off the tip of Baja California and Sinaloa, Mexico to the Gulf of Panama.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 135-163; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 112 - 139; Vertebrae: 70 - 76. Dark brown to black blotching and spotting on head, dorsal, and lateral portion of the body. Scales with anguilliform arrangement on body; ethmoid spine blunt. Pelvic filaments long. Gill rakers numerous. Prejuvenile stage present.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Ophidion imitator
Family
Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels)
Order
Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
19.1
Depth range
18–112 m (59–367 ft)
Environment
Marine; demersal; depth range 18 - 112 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Eastern Central Pacific: off the tip of Baja California and Sinaloa, Mexico to the Gulf of Panama.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

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

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