Species: Lepophidium marmoratum, Marbled Cusk-eel

Lepophidium marmoratum (Goode & Bean, 1885)

Marbled Cusk-eel

Elongate, eel-like, tapering at rear to a point at tail; 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 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 pale tan; nape with dark brown spots; 1-2 rows of dark spots along upper side, above & below lateral line; rear of mouth dusky, gill chamber dark, gill arches speckled, pale behind them; entire gut black; dorsal and anal fins with black edge, that of dorsal may be interrupted.

Reaches 23 cm.

On soft bottoms.

Depth range: 155-516 m.

The Bahamas to the central Caribbean.