Epigonus denticulatus Dieuzeide, 1950
Pencil cardinal
Epigonus denticulatus
photo by NOAA\NMFS\Mississippi Laboratory

 Family:  Epigonidae (Deepwater cardinalfishes)
 Max. size:  20 cm TL (male/unsexed)
 Environment:  bathydemersal; depth range 130 - 830 m
 Distribution:  Cosmopolitan. Western Atlantic: Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Eastern Atlantic: along the west coast of Africa to the southern tip of the continent, also western Mediterranean to southern Adriatic Sea. Indian Ocean: Reunion (Ref. 33390). Western Pacific: southwest coast of Japan, southern Australia and eastern New Zealand. Central Pacific: Hawaiian Ridge (Ref. 31632).
 Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 8-9. Lacks opercular spines (Ref. 31632). Membranous edge at upper border of the gill cover is well developed. Caudal peduncle elongated, body not deep (Ref. 31632). Pyloric caeca 10-14. Preserved specimens are brownish to yellowish in color, dorsally darker. Numerous brown-black melanophores on scale pockets.
 Biology:  Adults benthic on the continental slope and collected with bottom trawls (Ref. 7321). Juveniles are pelagic in depths of 130-145 and 350-425 m (Ref. 9563). Feed on small fishes and planktonic invertebrates (Ref. 4738). Oviparous (Ref. 4738).
 IUCN Red List Status:   (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:   
 

 Entered by: Luna, Susan M. - 11.04.91
 Modified by: Luna, Susan M. - 07.01.08
 Checked by: Garilao, Cristina V. - 23.01.97

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