Description

Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17 - 20; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 13 - 17; Vertebrae: 32. Dorsal profile of head slightly elevated in front of anterior nostril, then nearly straight to origin of dorsal fin. Preopercle with two sharp spines at its lower angle. The mouth has several fangs, and a pair of large canines near the tip of the lower jaw which are exposed when the mouth is closed. Lateral line double, the lower branching off under the 5th or 6th dorsal spine. Overall color is grayish blue with the head being slightly darker than the body.

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Scombriformes

Family: Gempylidae

Genus: Epinnula

Species: Epinnula magistralis Poey, 1854

Climate Zone

Location

• Western Central Atlantic: Caribbean Sea.

Biology

Rare species, probably mesobenthopelagic. Consumed as food (Ref. 4537). Reported to have been taken from 200-350 m in Jamaica (J. Tame pers. Comm. 08/16).

Habitat

benthopelagic

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Threat to Humans

Harmless