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Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels) >
Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels) > Brotulinae
Etymology: Brotula: Latin, brotula, -ae = little, bud, shoot (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: John Kirk Townsend (1809–1851) was an American naturalist, ornithologist and collector. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Fowler.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated. Tropical; 28°N - 15°S
Pacific Ocean: Hawaii and Johnston Island.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 75.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 34024)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Inhabit shallow reefs (Ref. 1602). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Uncommon species (Ref. 34024). Oviparous, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205). Mature at 46 cm SL (Ref. 34024). Size of 18 cm SL given by Ref. 37816 seems in error.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins, 1999. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(18):178p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 34024)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2 (Global))
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804) |
PD50 = 0.5078 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high]. |
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Bayesian length-weight
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a=0.00363 (0.00158 - 0.00837), b=3.15 (2.95 - 3.35), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref. 93245). |
Trophic level (Ref. 69278) |
3.8 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives |
Resilience (Ref. 120179) |
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.). |
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153) |
Moderate to high vulnerability (46 of 100). 🛈 |