Species: Lepophidium brevibarbe, Blackedge Cusk-eel

Lepophidium brevibarbe (Cuvier, 1829)

Blackedge Cusk-eel

Elongate, eel-like; tapering at rear to a point at tail; head low, compressed; snout with well developed, curved spine at front, no fringes under tip; eye large; mouth large, broad, nearly horizontal; teeth on jaws small, simple, in bands, outer ones larger; no tooth patch at lower front of gill arches; gill rakers: 3 (2-4) rudiments above, 4 (4-5) developed rakers below, no rudiments between developed rakers; dorsal and anal fins low, confluent with tail; dorsal fin 126-132 (120-134); anal fin 103-109 (99-110); pectorals on midside, 21-22 (20-23); pelvics each of two small threads inserted under eye; scales round, small, in regular overlapping rows; head extensively covered with overlapping scales, except snout and throat; lateral line complete.

Head and body dark grey to tan; rear of mouth & gill arches pale; edges of dorsal and, to a lesser extent, anal fin black; pelvic fin black at base, pale behind; lateral line unmarked.

Reaches 28 cm.

On soft bottoms.

Depth range: 5-505 m.

N Carolina to Uruguay