| Family | Scientific Name | Author | Year | Common Name |
| Ophididae | Barathrodemus manatinus | Goode & Bean | 1883 | Bighead Brotula |
Barathrodemus manatinus
Unique Characteristics: No barbels on snout and chin. Scales cycloid. Pectoral fins entire, almost reaching anus. Pelvic fins placed below preopercle, close together, with 2 rays each. Caudal fin with 8 or more rays. Eyes large, externally visible, diameter less than snout; orbit large, developed lens present. Head more or less inflated; mouth subterminal. Head length about 1/2 preanal length. Body depth at anus 8.5 times or less in standard length. Long gill rakers 12 or more. Opercular spine straight, strong and narrow, sometimes hidden, usually rounded in cross-section. Median basibranchial tooth patches 2. Anterior nostril a simple pore or with a thin tube. No spots, blotches or bands.
Similar Species: None
References:
Goode, G.B. and T. H. Bean. 1896. Oceanic ichthyology. A treatise on the deep-sea and pelagic fishes of the world, based chiefly upon the collections made by the Steamers Blake, Albatross, and Fish Hawk in the northwestern Atlantic, with an atlas containing 417 figures. Special Bulletin. Smithsonian Institution. United States National Museum. Washington, DC. 927 pp.
(FAO 1999). Nielsen, J.G., Cohen, D.M., Markle, D.F., and C.R. Robins. FAO species catalogue. Volume 18. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis. No. 125, Vol. 18. Rome, FAO. 178 pp., 136 figs.