family Chlopsidae

Body very elongate, anus in advanceof midpoint tubular, near to tip ofsnout, posterior nostril tubular, nearto tip snout, posterior nostril on outside of lip or within confines of mouth.Jaws not produced, vomerine teeth totally or partially separated in two rows.Gill opening small, lateral. Dorsal andanal fins confluent with caudal fin;pectoral fins present or absent. Cephalic pores reduced in number; on body,lateral line without pores but with lowpapilae.

Benthic on shelf and on continentalslope, usually burrowing in the bottom;reproduction duaring hydrological warmseason; leptocephali with metamorphicstages.