Echiodon exsilium Rosenblatt, 1961
Nocturnal pearlfish

Family:  Carapidae (Pearlfishes), subfamily: Carapinae
Max. size:  12.6 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 64 - 75 m
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: Baja California Sur, Mexico to Panama (Ref. 36487), including the Gulf of California and the Galapagos Islands.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 38-42; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 47-50; Vertebrae: 130. Eel-like, shallow body depth; 1 to several symphyseal fangs on dentary and premaxilla; lacking cardiform teeth, pelvic fins, and swim bladder rocker bone; a patch of ridges posteriorly on the ventral surface of the swim bladder (Ref. 34024). Precaudal vertebrae 21-25 (Ref. 34024). Branchiostegal rays: 7 (Ref. 36487).
Biology:  Uncommon species (Ref. 34024). Free-living adults are found on the outer shelf, usually deeper than 64 m over muddy sand bottoms (Ref. 36487). Oviparous, with specialized vexillifer planktonic larval stage, and benthic tenuis larval stage (Ref. 36487). Maximum depth from Ref. 58018.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 23 May 2007 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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