Epigonus affinis Parin & Abramov, 1986
Smooth-nose deepwater cardinalfish

Family:  Epigonidae (Deepwater cardinalfishes)
Max. size:  14.5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range - 300 m
Distribution:  Eastern Central Atlantic: equatorial; Vavilov Ridge (Ref. 31632).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 9-9; Vertebrae: 25-25. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: pungent opercular spine and palatine teeth; D2 I, 9; pectoral-fin rays 18 or 19; total gill rakers 30-33; vertebrae 10-15; no maxillary mustache-like processes; no ribs on last abdominal vertebra (Ref. 88877).
Biology:  A mesobenthic-pelagic species living mainly above the bottom (Ref. 31632). Minimum depth from Ref. 58018.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 14 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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