Verilus cynodon (Regan, 1921)
Silver splitfin
photo by FAO

Family:  Malakichthyidae (Temperate ocean-basses)
Max. size:  21 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 100 - 570 m
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: off southern Mozambique Channel to off Eastern Cape of South Africa.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-8. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: basioccipital foramen present (vs. absent); proximal middle radial of anal-fin pterygiophore slender with trough on anterodorsal portion (vs. no trough); lateral line scales 36-42 (vs. 44-48 in N. atlanticus, 47-51 in N. pacificus); only cycloid scales on body (vs. ctenoid and cycloid in N. atlanticus); small canine teeth on side of lower jaw (vs. villiform teeth in N. atlanticus) (Ref. 55728).
Biology:  Marketed fresh or made into fishmeal (Ref. 3288).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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