Species: Otophidium omostigma, Polkadot Cusk-eel

Otophidium omostigma (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882)

Polkadot Cusk-eel

Body relatively short, compressed, tapering to rear; head profile convex above; eye large; between eyes with thin crest under skin, leading to a short, sharp spine directed obliquely forward at ~45 degrees on snout; mouth large, under slightly overhanging snout; gill rakers: 2-3 rudiments above, 4 short rakers below; opercle with a strong, sharp, partly hidden spine; dorsal and anal fins confluent with pointed tail fin; dorsal fin 102-105; anal fin 82-85; tail fin 9; pelvic fin with 2 unequal rays, inserted under eye; lateral line incomplete; scales small, elongated, arranged in basketweave pattern, none on head.

Tan; a pupil sized black spot just above corner of opercle; 2-3 rows of black-brown blotches along upper body, upper rows meeting along upper midline of body, lower row along or below lateral line; dorsal fin with several black blotches along upper edge; anal fin broadly black along its base; tail pale.

Reaches 13 cm.

On soft bottoms.

Depth range: 10-50 m.

N Carolina to the E Caribbean, also in Brazil.