---
title: Cusk-eels (Ophidiidae)
scientific_name: Ophidiidae
common_name: Cusk-eels
rank: Family
published: 2024-11-19T18:41:51.573Z
updated: 2026-08-03T20:53:17.814Z
tags: Cusk-eels, Ophidiidae, Red Sea, Marine Life, Diving
url: https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/cusk-eels
---

# Cusk-eels (*Ophidiidae*)

## Quick facts

- **Rank:** Family
- **Scientific name:** Ophidiidae
- **Body shape:** Eel-like - Snake-shaped, no obvious tail fin - moray eels, snake eels.
- **Species listed here:** 1

## How to recognise this group

- elongated, snake-like body
- dorsal, anal, and caudal fins continuous
- tail fin pointed
- often peeking from burrows or crevices, especially at night

Cusk-eels are marine bony fishes characterized by their elongated, snake-like bodies. Their dorsal and anal fins are continuous with the pointed caudal fin, forming a single unbroken fringe along the back and underside. Pelvic fins, when present, are often reduced to slender, barbel-like filaments positioned below the throat, which are used for sensing the substrate. Most species observed by divers in the Red Sea range from 10 to 30 cm (4-12 inches) in length, though some can exceed 50 cm (20 inches). Their coloration typically provides camouflage, often mottled browns, greys, or uniform sandy tones, allowing them to blend with the seabed.

These benthic fishes inhabit a wide range of environments, from shallow reef flats and seagrass beds down to sandy or rubble slopes at depths of several hundred meters. Many cusk-eel species are nocturnal, remaining hidden in burrows, under rocks, or within crevices throughout the day. At night, they emerge to forage, moving slowly over the substrate using their muscular bodies and often probing with their sensory pelvic fins. Their diet primarily consists of small invertebrates, including crustaceans and worms, along with small fish. Divers typically spot cusk-eels peeking from shelters or moving cautiously over sand, especially during night dives.


## Species (1)

- [Large-Eye Brotula (Brotula multibarbata)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/cusk-eels/large-eye-brotula)

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*Source: [Red Sea Creatures](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/cusk-eels)*
*Updated: August 3, 2026*