Echiodon dawsoni Williams & Shipp, 1982
Chain pearlfish
Echiodon dawsoni
photo by Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada

Family:  Carapidae (Pearlfishes), subfamily: Carapinae
Max. size:  11.2 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 60 - 180 m
Distribution:  Western Central Atlantic: northeastern Gulf of Mexico and the Straits of Florida. Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951).
Diagnosis:  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). 39-43 anal fin rays in front of vertical through back of 30th vertebrae; 11-12 anal fin rays in front of vertical through dorsal fin origin (Ref. 34024).
Biology:  Uncommon species (Ref. 34024).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 August 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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