Common names: cusk-eel (English), congriperla (Espanol)
 
Chilara taylori (Girard, 1858)

Spotted cusk-eel


Elongate, compressed at rear; head and snout rounded; snout overhanging; no spine on snout teeth simple, in several rows on jaws, and front and sides of roof of mouth; pelvic fin is two free rays of unequal length, inserted under eye, 0.9-1.2 times length of pectoral fin; dorsal and anal fins low, with long bases, confluent with tail fin; dorsal fin 187-229; anal fin 150-181; lateral line incomplete, extends onto rear of tail; scales smooth, set at oblique angles, none on head.


Cream to brown; head and body with large dark spots, tending to form 3-4 rows on body; orange tint around mouth; pores on head in white halos; dorsal and anal fins with black margins; juvenile lacks dark spots.


Size: reaches at least 40 cm.

Habitat: benthic on sandy bottoms in which it burrows tail first, night active.

Depth: 1.5-731 m.

A temperate species known from Washington state to central Baja to the north of our region and from Ecuador in the southern part of the TEP.