Species: Lepophidium wileyi, Fringed Cusk-eel

Lepophidium wileyi Robins et al, 2012

Fringed 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; 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 8 (7-9) developed rakers plus 0 (0-2) rudiments below, total 10-12 (10-13) rakers; dorsal and anal fins low, confluent with tail; dorsal fin 127-133 (124-135); anal fin 107-113 (105-117); pectorals on midside, 21-23 (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 pale brown, chest & belly white; no bright white spot in groove where the top jaws meet at the front; roof of mouth, throat, gill bars & gill chamber, & oesophagus black; edges of dorsal and anal fins & tip of tail fin black.

Reaches 21.5 cm.

On soft bottoms.

Depth range: 60-402 m.

The Bahamas and Gulf of Mexico to the southern Caribbean.