Species: Chlopsis apterus, Snout-stripe false-moray

Chlopsis apterus (Beebe & Tee-Van, 1938)

Snout-stripe false moray

Elongate, slightly compressed; large eyes; snout bluntly pointed; front nostril tubular, points downward, rear nostril under eye, opens in top lip; mouth moderately large, extends behind eye; no flange on either lip; jaw teeth small, in 3 rows; 2 series of teeth on center of roof of mouth;  gill opening small, oval, lateral; pectoral fins absent; dorsal and anal fins well developed, continuous with tail; dorsal fin origin about 1 snout length behind gill opening; 134-138 vertebrae, 36-39 before anus; lateral line = 2 pores on rear of head.

Top half brown, abruptly changing to white below, contrast strong on head; prominent white stripe along snout before eye; narrow brown band along lower jaw; no collars.

Size: 25 cm.

Habitat: muddy bottom.

Depth: 80-130 m.

The southern Gulf of California to Colombia.