Species: Neobythites gilli, Twospot Brotula

Neobythites gilli Goode & Bean, 1885

Twospot Brotula

Head and body compressed, tapering strongly at rear; head large (at least half of length before anal fin); eye large (~equal to 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, tapering, rear patch small, round; 3-4+8-10 long gill rakers; upper rear corner of operculum with a large, straight, round spine; lower angle of preoperculum with spine weak or absent, broad in small fish; dorsal fin origin slightly behind pectoral base, 93 (88-97) dorsal rays; anal fin 77 (73-81); pectorals 24 (23-25); pelvics close together and inserted under preoperculum, each fin consisting of a pair of rays that are united by a membrane near their bases, 15-20% SL, reach 2/3 distance to 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.

Light yellow brown; belly and under throat and lower jaw with numerous dark dots; inside mouth and gill chamber black; a series of indistinct dark blotches along upper body, the last two extending onto dorsal fin, with the first of those dorsal fin blotches forming a black oval in the center of the fin; dorsal fin usually with 2 (1-4)ocelli; anal fin with alternating dark grey and white bars.

Reaches 15.2 cm.

Lives on and above soft bottoms.

Depth range: 59-640 m; usually deeper than 185 m.

The Gulf of Mexico, also in Brazil.