|Family||Scientific Name||Author||Year||Common Name|
|Ophichthidae||Bascanichthys bascanium||(Jordan)||1884||Sooty Eel|
All Bascanichthys – Tail tip a hard or fleshy finless point. Gill opening midlateral to entirely ventral, unconstructed. Dorsal fin arises behind nape. Pectoral fins absent or vestigial; median fins reduced or absent. Coloration without large spots. Gill openings low lateral, crescentic. Head pores reduced, 2 preopercular pores. Small, lappet-like pectoral fins present in upper gill opening corner.
Unique Characters: No obvious pale spotting along lateral line or in branchial region.
Similar Species: Whip Eel Bascanichthys scuticaris. A series of small, pale spots above each lateral-line pore along body, tail, and in branchial region (may be diffuse along body and tail of larger specimens).