Species: Saurenchelys cognita, Known Sorcerer, Longface Eel, Longface Sorcerer Eel

Saurenchelys cognita Smith, 1989

Longface Eel, Known Sorcerer, Longface Sorcerer Eel

Elongate, cylindrical at front, compressed at rear, tapering to a long slender, pointed tail; head and body ~23% of TL; a long narrow snout that has a soft tip; large eye; front nostril tubular, at front of snout, rear nostril a horizontal slit before center of eye; jaws long and pointed, with top jaw overhanging; teeth conical, relatively small, in bands; 3 rows of teeth on top jaw, inner row largest; a spade-shaped patch of ~6 transverse rows of teeth at center of top jaws under snout; a long tooth patch on center of roof of mouth that has a large central row and 2-3 rows of smaller teeth at side, a pair of extra bands of small teeth inside & behind those; lower jaw with 3-5 rows of teeth, front teeth fit into gap behind central-front tooth patch of upper jaws; no pectoral fins; dorsal fin origin slightly behind gill opening; dorsal and anal fins confluent with tail fin; lateral line complete, on head and body; 199-209 vertebrae.

Silvery, edges of median fins black; stomach pale.

Reaches 52 cm.

Lives on soft silt and mud bottoms.

Depth range: 59-158 m.

The Gulf of Mexico to N Carolina.