Family NBMICHTHYIDAE 
Body excessively slender, more or less compressed, deepest medially 
tapers back to usually long and slender filiform tail, forward to very 
long slender neck, abruptly enlarged at head. Head small, short, rather 
wide, top depressed. Snout protruded, extremely slender nearly needle 
like, upper Jaw longer. Eye moderate, mandible slender like upper Jaw. 
Mouth cleft extends behind eye. Jaws and vomer with close set teeth, 
points sometimes directed backward. Tongue not free. Nostrils large, 
c lose together before eye, without tube or flap. Gill opening large, 
separated by narrow isthmus or partly confluent. Branchial openings in 
pharynx wide slits, Suspensorium vertical. Vertebrae numerous. No 
scales. Lateral line with or without pores. Dorsal and anal long, 
confluent with reduced caudal or extend to end of fileimentous tail. 
Pectoral small, well developed. Vent near gill openings or more post¬ 
erior. 
Singular bathypelagic eels, of warm and temperate seas. 
