Spectrunculus Jordan and Thompson, 1914
Diagnosis: rather elongate body; length of head more than twice in preanal length; snout longer than eye; anterior nostril with a thick, fleshy raised rim; opercular spine strong. Two median basibranchial tooth patches. Developed gillrakers on anterior arch 5-10. Dorsal finrays 121-148; anal finrays 90-113; pectoral finrays 23-33, pelvic fins with 2 rays in each. Lateral line short. Colour: males dusky cream, females light brown. Size: to about 125 cm SL.
Habitat: post-larvae occur pelagically and juveniles and adults are caught in bottom trawls at 800-1,255 m. Food: no data. Reproduction: oviparous.
Distribution: several specimens in the area from Scotland southwards. Elsewhere, known from the western North Atlantic and eastern South Atlantic and from the Pacific Ocean.
Species 1.
Recent revision: Nielsen and Hureau (1980).
Species of this genus in the program:
Spectrunculus grandis