Genus: Ogilbia, Brotulas, Common Brotula

OGILBIA

BROTULAS

Body elongate, compressed, decreasing to slender tail; head large, deep; narrow between eyes (< 7% of SL); front nostril is immediately above the top lip; top jaw bone expanded vertically at rear, with a knob at lower rear corner; jaw teeth pointed, in bands; preopercle with 3 pores at lower rear corner; opercle with 1 flat spine at upper angle; 12-20 gill rakers, 2-4 long rakers in angle of arch; no central tooth patch at bottom of gill arches; each pelvic fin consists of 1 filament, inserted under edge of gill cover; pectoral fin <16% of SL; dorsal and anal fins separate from tail; lateral line indistinct, continuous, complete; scales small, imbedded, covering body, none on operculum, may be absent from cheek; male sex organ usually with 2 pairs of pseudoclaspers, inner pair smaller than outer pair.

A neotropical genus with about 20 species; there are 9 representatives in and endemic to our region.