Lophiodes endoi

A species of the Lophiodes mutilus group differing from congeners by the following characters: a rounded esca with paler tip; third dorsal spine bearing a pair of black tendrils located at two-thirds of illicial length; 18–22 (mainly 20–21) pectoral fin rays; a relatively short head (33.4–39.6% SL); a relatively short illicium (16.5–26.7% SL); a relatively short third dorsal spine (30.0–42.3% SL); fifth dorsal spine relatively long, when folded back reaching base of third dorsal fin ray, and anterior frontal spine enlarged (Ref. 79601). Tail cylindrical, somewhat depressed, tapering posteriorly; eye large; gill openings extending in front of pectoral fins; both maxilla and frontal ridge smooth, without knobs; frontal divided into three spines, anterior one enlarged, directed forward, sometimes divided into two sub-spines; sphenotic with two spines, inner spine well developed, straight and directed upward; inner frontal spine present in specimens smaller than 300 mm and reduced in specimens larger than 300 mm; single interopercular spine; parietal spine present at either side of third dorsal spine base, reduced in larger specimens; hyomandibula with two spines, anterior spine smaller, becoming blunt with three knobs in larger specimens; humeral spine well developed with three to four spines. All dorsal fin spines, except for the third, devoid of tendrils; second to sixth dorsal spines bearing a tiny dark bulb at tip in most specimens; illicium lightly pigmented, relatively short (16.5–26.7% SL), when folded back reaching third dorsal spine base, reaching sphenotic spines in larger specimens; esca a rounded bulb, slightly darker than illicium, tip pale; second dorsal spine slightly longer than illicium, when folded back reaching between third dorsal spine base and end of neurocranium; third dorsal spine relatively short (30.0–42.3% SL), bearing one pair of darkly pigmented tendrils at about two-thirds its length, when folded back reaches third dorsal fin ray ba