Species: Lepophidium crossotum, Whitespot Cusk-eel

Lepophidium crossotum Robins et al, 2012

Whitespot Cusk-eel

Elongate, eel-like, tapering at rear to a point at tail; head low, compressed; snout with well developed, curved spine at front, numerous small fringes under tip around nostrils over a circular groove between the top jaws; eye large; mouth large, broad, nearly horizontal; teeth on jaws small, simple, in bands, outer ones larger; no tooth patch at lower front of gill arches; gill rakers – upper arm with 3 (2-3) rudiments, lower arm with 6-7 developed rakers plus 0 (0-2) rudiments below, total 10 (9-11) rakers; dorsal and anal fins low, confluent with tail; dorsal fin 119-120 (117-125); anal fin 101-105 (99-106); pectorals on midside, 20-21 (19-22); pelvics each of two small threads inserted under eye; scales round, small, in regular overlapping rows; head extensively covered with overlapping scales extending to between or before eyes, on cheeks and opercle; lateral line complete.

Head & body pale brown, chest & belly white; a bright white spot in groove where the top jaws meet at the front, this color extending slightly into mouth; roof of mouth, throat, gill bars (but not the lining of the gill chamber) & oesophagus black; edges of dorsal and anal fins & tip of tail fin black..

Reaches 17.5 cm.

On soft bottoms.

Depth range: 91-384 m.

North Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico.