Species: Lepophidium cultratum, Blackear Cusk-eel

Lepophidium cultratum Robins et al, 2012

Blackear Cusk-eel

Elongate, eel-like, tapering at rear to a point at tail, relatively short, stout; head low, compressed; snout with well developed, curved spine at front, no fringes under tip; 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 3-4 (2-5) rudiments, lower arm with 6-7 (5-8) developed rakers plus 0-3 (0-5) rudiments below, total 10-13 (9-15) rakers; dorsal and anal fins low, confluent with tail; dorsal fin 130-135 (128-137); anal fin 108-112 (105-114); pectorals on midside, 23-25 (21-26); 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 brown, chest & belly white; opercle blackish (internal pigment); inside mouth, gill chamber & oesophagus black; edges of dorsal and anal fins dark; tail fin with dark center .

Reaches 33 cm.

On soft bottoms.

Depth range: 91-329 m.

The W Caribbean to French Guiana.