Species: Microdesmus luscus, Small-eyed wormfish

Microdesmus luscus Dawson, 1977

Small-eyed wormfish

Slender, wormlike, body height 3-9% of SL; eyes on side of head, minute, partly obscured; front nostril a short tube, rear nostril a tube, slightly longer than front nostril; mouth strongly oblique, lower jaw heavy, protruding; lips fleshy, broadly expanded towards rear, without elongate free flap at rear angle of gape; upper lip narrow in front; upper teeth in 2 rows, 9-10 slightly recurved caniniform teeth, well separated, inner row 15-16 smaller, pointed teeth; lower jaw with 5-6 close-set caniniform teeth at front, inner row of 20 slender, pointed teeth; gill opening large (not tubular), located at base of pectoral fin; one, long based continuous dorsal fin, XIII, 37-38, origin before tip of depressed pectoral fin; anal fin 0, 35; dorsal and anal fins united to caudal fin; pectoral fin 13-14, long, narrowly rounded; pelvic fins minute, I, 3; tail fin pointed; scales well separated, inconspicuous, about 20 in vertical series at the anal fin origin, some scales on head, & abdomen; no lateral line.