Mentodus eubranchus (Matsui & Rosenblatt, 1987)

Family:  Platytroctidae (Tubeshoulders)
Max. size:  11.4 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range - 1000 m
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: off central California, USA to off the west coast of Mexico. One record from the Northwest Pacific.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-19; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 15-16; Vertebrae: 42-44. No preoperculomandibular or postocular canals. Infraorbital canal restricted to lacrimal and ventral margin of eye. Supraorbital canal extending from just in front of eye to just behind eye. Snout short, about half to three-fourths eye length. Nasal sac nearly bordering maxilla. Premaxillary tusk single and slightly larger than other teeth. No teeth on mesopterygoid and on upper pharyngeals of 2nd arch. Gill filaments relatively well developed for a platyroctid, outer row at angle of 1st arch 0.5-1.2% SL. Bases of filaments united at membrane, which at angle of 1st arch is one-third to one-fourth the length of inner filaments. Scales 56-62 in midlateral series. Dorsal margin of gill opening 1-3 (usually 2) scale rows above the opening of shoulder organ (about level with mideye). Eye large, 11% SL at about 100 mm SL, its lateral bulge usually about in line with the widest part of skull at sphenotic or barely beyond it. Cleithral symphysis normal, not ending in a spine.
Biology:  Bathypelagic below 1000 m (Ref. 58302).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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