Species: Neobythites elongatus, Elongate brotula

Neobythites elongatus Nielsen & Retzler, 1994

Elongate brotula

Head and body compressed, tapering strongly at rear; head large (at least half of length before anal fin); snout blunt; eye large (>snout length);  mouth large (extends behind eye), slightly oblique, at front; teeth small, simple on front (a V shaped patch) and sides of roof of mouth, two tooth patches on base of gill arches behind tongue, front patch long & narrow, rear patch small & circular;  long gill rakers 3-6+10; upper rear of operculum with one strong, straight, round spine; preoperculum with 2 sharp spines at its lower angle; dorsal fin origin slightly behind pectoral base, 101-105 rays; anal fin 86-90 rays; pectorals 23-26; pelvics close together and inserted under preoperculum, each fin consisting of a pair of rays that are united by a membrane near their bases, fins short, 12-14% SL, end well before anal fin; tail fin joined to dorsal and anal fins but extends well behind them; lateral line incomplete (restricted to front 85% of body and tail); head and body entirely covered with smooth scales, 7 scale rows between lateral line and dorsal fin.

Upper body marbled brown, lower part pale; body and fins without stripes or ocelli.

Reaches 14.5 cm.

Lives on and adjacent to soft bottoms.

Depth range: 229-1272 m

SE Florida to the southern Caribbean.