Species: Lepophidium entomelan, Blackthroat Cusk-eel

Lepophidium entomelan Robins et al, 2012

Blackthroat Cusk-eel

Elongate, eel-like, tapering at rear to a point at tail; head low, compressed; snout strongly pointed, 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 (2-4) rudiments, & rarely 1 developed raker, lower arm with 5-7 (5-8) developed rakers plus 3-6 (0-6) rudiments below, total 10-15 (10-18) rakers; dorsal and anal fins low, confluent with tail; dorsal fin 128-132 (125-133); anal fin 107-110 (103-114); pectorals on midside, 22-24 (20-25); 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 & membranes under throat blackish (internal pigment); inside mouth, gill chamber & oesophagus black; hind-gut all dark; edges of dorsal and anal fins dark.

Reaches 27 cm.

On soft bottoms.

Depth range: 122-439 m.

Georgia to the SW Caribbean