Lepidion eques (Günther, 1887)
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Lepidion eques is benthopelagic and has been caught at depths ranging from 1227 to 1850 m. The species is distributed in the North Atlantic from the Bay of Biscay, along the western slopes of the British Isles, along the Iceland-Faroe Ridge to Iceland and along Greenland, the Davis Straits, the Northern Labrador and the Grand Banks of Newfoundland (Whitehead et al., 1986a).
Females begin to mature at 22-23 cm and can carry over 100,000 eggs. Near Iceland, spawning takes place in water temperatures ranging from 5.2 to 6.5 oC (Herbert & Wilde, 2001).
A member of the family Moridae, the main distinguishing feature of the genus Lepidion is the elongation of one of the rays of the first dorsal fin. Teeth are present on the Vomer and a chin barbel is present. Lepidion eques has a large eye with a posterior nostril immediately anterior to it (Whitehead et al., 1986a).
During the present survey, Lepidion eques was recorded from the Porcupine Bight and the Rockall Bank, swimming or hovering over the transitional zone. They were also recorded swimming and hiding in the coral of the Galicia Bank. They did not appear to be disturbed by the presence of the camera.
This species does not appear to be of commercial importance.
There is more information available for this species on FishBase.
Prepared by: Ecological Consultancy Services Ltd www.ecoserve.ie