Family Ophidiidae - cusk-eels

Cusk-eels live in temperate to tropical waters worldwide. Most are marine but some occur only in fresh water. Barbels aid them in their search for food along the bottom and most use their tails to push into the sand or mud substrate.

Spotted cusk eel- Chilara taylori

Remarks: Seldom caught by anglers. Resides in the channels and mud flats, where it burrows tail first into the soft substrate.

Identification: Body elongate with the dorsal and anal fins continuous. Pelvic fins are barbel in form located under the eyes. Mature specimens are brown or tan with darker spotting; lip region orange colored. Length to 36cm.

Range: Northern Oregon to central Baja California over soft bottoms to 244m.