taxonID	type	description	language	source
249563C6D622542A925A839B3D8EC81A.taxon	description	Fig. 2	en	Del Moral-Flores, Luis Fernando, Rodriguez-Gonzalez, Janeth, Jimenez-Badillo, Maria de Lourdes (2022): First report of crested cusk-eel, Ophidion josephi (Actinopterygii: Ophidiiformes: Ophidiidae), in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 52 (3): 189-194, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/aiep.52.86571, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/aiep.52.86571
249563C6D622542A925A839B3D8EC81A.taxon	description	Description. Dorsal fin rays: 139 - 147; anal fin rays: 108 - 117; pectoral fin rays: 21 - 23; pelvic fin rays: 2; caudal fin rays: 9; branchiostegal 7; gill rakers total: 7; and trunk vertebrae total 16, and caudal vertebrae number 50 to 52. Elongate body covered with diminutive elongated cycloid scales, except for cephalic region. Identified by following combination of characteristics: short blunt snout (3.3 % - 4.4 % of SL), slightly subterminal mouth, maxilla ending behind orbital margin. Moderate eye size, its length approximating that of snout (3.3 % - 4.3 % SL). Five to four gill rakers on lover limb. Head length 17.9 % - 19.5 % SL, with straight dorsal profile or in males strong crest, in straight line over preopercular region. Strong supraopercular spine covered by dermal fold. Pectoral fins shorter than head (57.5 % - 70 % HL), round in shape, its coloration intense yellow, and in some cases, black. Distal margin of dorsal and anal fin black; that of anal fin wider. Predorsal fin length 24.7 % to 27.4 % in SL and its origin on middle part of pectoral fin. Yellow body coloration, some brown regions. Ventral part slightly lighter that dorsal one. Base of dorsal fin black along its entire length, becoming fainter near caudal fin. Three rows of dark spots on sides, upper one continuous, remaining ones interrupted and blurred. Body covered with cycloid and elongate scales, having basket-shaped pattern.	en	Del Moral-Flores, Luis Fernando, Rodriguez-Gonzalez, Janeth, Jimenez-Badillo, Maria de Lourdes (2022): First report of crested cusk-eel, Ophidion josephi (Actinopterygii: Ophidiiformes: Ophidiidae), in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 52 (3): 189-194, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/aiep.52.86571, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/aiep.52.86571
249563C6D622542A925A839B3D8EC81A.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. This species is distinguished from its congeners by having three to four rows of spots usually fused into a solid stripe, with a distinct crest on the spots; and a swollen nape or crest.	en	Del Moral-Flores, Luis Fernando, Rodriguez-Gonzalez, Janeth, Jimenez-Badillo, Maria de Lourdes (2022): First report of crested cusk-eel, Ophidion josephi (Actinopterygii: Ophidiiformes: Ophidiidae), in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 52 (3): 189-194, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/aiep.52.86571, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/aiep.52.86571
