Species: Lepophidium kallion, Palenose Cusk-eel

Lepophidium kallion Robins, 1959

Palenose Cusk-eel

Elongate, eel-like, tapering at rear to a point at tail; head low, compressed; snout with well developed, curved spine at front, a fringe of several series of elaborate small flaps under tip around nostrils; 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 2-3 rudiments, lower arm with 4 (4-5) developed rakers plus 1-3 rudiments below, total 8-9 rakers; dorsal and anal fins low, confluent with tail; dorsal fin 117-122; anal fin 95-101; pectorals on midside, 21-22 (20-23); 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, usually with a brown stripe above and below a pale stripe along lateral line, sometimes those dark stripes form dark dashes; may be some dark blotches on side above pectoral fin; nape may be dark with pale spots; snout pale; rear of mouth dark, gill chamber and entire gut black; anus black; dorsal fin with strong black edge, anal fin with or without less black edge.

Reaches 17.5 cm.

On soft bottoms.

Depth range: 219-1097 m.

The Bahamas to the southern Caribbean.