Species: Lepophidium zophochir, Sooty Cusk-eel

Lepophidium zophochir Robins et al, 2012

Sooty Cusk-eel

Elongate, eel-like, tapering at rear to a point at tail; head low, compressed; snout blunt, 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, lower arm with 5 (4-7) developed rakers plus 0-3 (0-5) rudiments below, total 10 (9-14) rakers; dorsal and anal fins low, confluent with tail; dorsal fin 132-137 (130-139); anal fin 111-114 (108-116); pectorals on midside, 22-24 (21-27); 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 dark brown; pectoral fin, opercle and top jaw black; inside mouth, gill chamber, throat and remainder of gut black; dorsal fin dark, with black edge; anal fin usually all black.

Reaches 26 cm.

On soft bottoms.

Depth range: 173-348 m.

The western Caribbean to Brazil.