Species: Lophiodes beroe, White Goosefish, White Anglerfish

Lophiodes beroe Caruso, 1981

White Goosefish, White Anglerfish

Head and front of body flattened, broad, body narrowing behind; eyes in top of head; snout narrow; ridge from top of eye to snout low, smooth; bone behind eye with 1 spine; mouth broad, with many long, sharp teeth; gill opening large, behind and extending in front of pectoral base; dorsal fin consists of III isolated spines on head, first spine acts as a fishing pole with a bulb-like "lure" with a cirrus at tip and various cirri at its base, 3rd spine 28.5-39.3% SL, then a group of III spines, last (and sometimes 2nd last) imbedded, barely visible, above pectoral fin and a soft fin (8 rays) behind, on rear of body; anal fin 6; pectoral fin 18-21, pectoral fins limb-like; gill opening in "armpit" of pectoral fins, extends in front of fin base; head and body with scattered branched skin flaps.

Uniform light to dark brown or gray or light brown with dark brown blotches; upper surface with small, circular pale spots; 1st dorsal spine dark, darker near tip, its bulbous bait pale, unpigmented; lining of stomach cavity black.

Size: reaches about 44 cm.

Habitat: sandy and rubble bottoms.

Depth range: 347-860 m.

Gulf of Mexico to the southern Caribbean.