Lestidium nudum Gilbert, 1905
Deep water pike smelt
Lestidium nudum
photo by Gloerfelt-Tarp, T.

Family:  Lestidiidae (Naked barracudinas)
Max. size:  24.7 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 183 - 700 m
Distribution:  Pacific Ocean.
Diagnosis:  Body moderately long, not especially slender; luminescent duct in abdominal cavity unbranched, extending forward to below opercle or before anterior margin of eye; nostrils well before a vertical through posterior end of maxilla; no light organ at anterior margin of orbit; anal-fin rays 26-34; incomplete lateral line, extending only to above the anterior third of anal-fin base; total lateral-line scales are 84-87, with 64-68 large scales, followed by 15-21 smalles scales; branchiostegal membranes and rays entirely black (Ref. 123138).
Biology:  Meso- or perhaps benthopelagic (Ref. 58302).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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