Pacific bearded brotula

Three short barbels on either side of the snout and three barbels on either side of the lower jaw, pelvic fins under the middle of the head that are made up of two filaments linked basally, and dorsal and anal fins that merge into a pointed tail fin.[3] It has a flat body that diminishes in thickness near the back end. Its eyes, mouth and gill openings are large. Small, slick scales cover the body. The fish, which was captured in coastal waters off Costa Rica in July 2021, had a weight of 5.67 kg (12.5 lb) as of March 31, 2022, breaking the previous record set by the International Game Fish Association.[4] It averages around 45 cm (18 in), the largest specimen measured 115 cm (45 in). It contains around 108–118 dorsal soft rays, 27–28 pectoral rays and 78–89 analsoft rays. They also have 55–56 vertebrae.[5]

It ranges across Mexico all the way to the Gulf of California, and the Eastern Central Pacific. It ranges over countries which includes Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, United States, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Costa Rica. Mature eels are benthopelagic and they live in depths over 650 m (2,130 ft) below the water surface.[1][5]

They are oviparous and characterized by larvae in midwater that are late post-flexion and transition stage.[6] Elusive animals, they are rarely observed by humans and they rest in caves by day and hunt by night. They consume polychaete worms, tiny clams, crabs, and other invertebrates for food.[4]