Species: Japonoconger proriger, Black-fin conger

Japonoconger proriger (Gilbert, 1891)

Black-fin conger

Body moderately elongate; head and trunk < 40% of TL;body depth ~ 7.5% of TL; head length equal to trunk; eye small, half length of snout, 12% of head length; snout long,  with strongly pointed soft tip overhanging mouth by 2/3 length of eye; jaws very broad and strong, curved at rear, reaching to under rear of pupil; front nostril tubular, near tip of snout, pointing forward and down; rear nostril elliptical, in front of mid-eye; narrow flange on side of lower lip, no flange on top lip; jaws broad, curved at rear; teeth small, conical, in bands on jaws; patch of teeth on front roof of mouth long, at least ½ length of band on top jaw; patch at front of top jaws separated by a distinct gap from bands on sides of jaws; tail not attenuated, tip soft and flexible; dorsal fin origin before base of pectoral fin; dorsal and anal fin rays segmented; pectoral fin well developed, its base ending above top of gill opening; pores on top rear of head.

Light brown; all fins black, dorsal and anal with narrow white margin at rear; inside mouth, gill chamber and body cavity black, black of gill chamber visible through skin.

Size: to 35 cm.

Habitat: benthic on soft bottoms.

Depth: 55-735 m.

Gulf of Tehuantepec to central Peru.