Genus: Leptophilypnus, Freshwater Sleeper, Freshwater Sleepers

LEPTOPHILYPNUS

FRESHWATER SLEEPERS

Elongate, not much deeper than wide at front, compressed at rear; eyes near top of head, distance between them about equal to eye diameter; mouth large and oblique, lower jaw prominently projecting; bones of lower jaw broad, meeting under rear edge of mouth, leaving an oval, naked area on chin; teeth small, pointed, in bands, none on center of roof of mouth; no preopercular spine; gill opening extending forward nearly to vertical from rear margin of eye; gill membranes broadly joined to throat, with 6 rays; 1st dorsal fin VI spines, none elongate, base of 2nd dorsal < distance from the end of that base to tail fin; anal fin with I spine; pelvic fins I, 5, long, completely and widely separate; head, nape, and breast without scales; scales on trunk rough, 28-36 in lateral series; no lateral line.

A genus of primarily freshwater fishes; contains three species, all restricted to the New World; two occur in the Greater Caribbean, one of which is found in brackish waters.