Slimy Cusk
Brosmophyciops pautzkei
- Usual depth7–26 m
- Water temperature20–30 °C
- Best monthsApril and May
- How commonRare
About this species
Brosmophyciops pautzkei, the slimy cuskeel or free-tailed reef brotula, is a species of viviparous brotulas found in tropical reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. This species grows to 7 cm (2.8 in) total length. This species is the only known member of its genus. The specific name honours Clarence F. Pautzke, who was a former student of the describer of this species who went on to become the chief biologist in the Department of Game of Washington state and who was present on Bikini Atoll in 1946 and 1947 when the type specimen was collected.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Brosmophyciops”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article
Where and when
Where it has been recorded
Worldwide
Loading the map
Best months
Worldwide (open data)
- January: 11 records
- February: 8 records
- March: 5 records
- April: 20 records
- May: 25 records
- June: 5 records
- July: 2 records
- August: 1 records
- September: 10 records
- October: 12 records
- November: 12 records
- December: 4 records
Depth and water temperature
Depth
Mostly recorded at 7–26 m · Deepest record: 38 m
Water temperature
Recorded in surface water of 20–30 °C
Names and classification
- English
- Slimy Cusk, Slimy Cuskeel
Names in 2 more languages
- Japanese
- Nettaiitachiuo, ネッタイイタチウオ
- Simplified Chinese
- 深海鼬魚, 潘氏似鱈鳚, 潘氏似鱈鼬魚, 隱頜似鱈鼬魚
Other scientific names: Brosmophyciops pautskei, Brosmophysiops pautzkei
Similar species
- Gelatinous Blindfish
Aphyonus gelatinosus
Sources and credits
Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).
- Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
- Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
- Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
- 205 open-data records from 1960 to 2015.
- Species data updated October 26, 2026.
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