Species: Neobythites monocellatus, Onespot Brotula

Neobythites monocellatus Neilsen, 1999

Onespot Brotula

Head and body compressed, tapering strongly at rear; head large (at least half of length before anal fin); snout blunt, very short; eye large (1.5X snout length); mouth large (extends behind eye), slightly oblique, at front; teeth small, simple on front (a V shaped patch) and sides of roof of mouth, two tooth patches on base of gill arches behind tongue, front patch long & narrow, rear patch small & circular; long gill rakers 5+1+9; upper rear of operculum with one strong, straight, round spine; preoperculum with a broad flat process at its lower angle; dorsal fin origin slightly behind pectoral base, 96 (93-99) rays; anal fin 80 (78-83) rays; pectorals 26 (24-27); pelvics close together and inserted under preoperculum, each fin consisting of a pair of rays that are united by a membrane near their bases, fins 20 (18-24)% SL, reach almost to anal fin; tail fin joined to dorsal and anal fins but extends well behind them; lateral line incomplete (restricted to front 85% of body and tail); head and body entirely covered with smooth scales, 7 scale rows between lateral line and dorsal fin.

Body with indistinct dark bars, some continuing onto anal fin as dark marks; pectorals, lips, under head and front of body with dark pigment; area around anus and inside gill chamber black; dorsal fin with one ocellus, behind anus and a little before mid-body.

Reaches 17 cm.

Lives on and adjacent to soft bottoms.

Depth range: 115-440 m

Gulf of Mexico to Suriname, also in Brazil.