Epigonus telescopus, the black cardinal fish, is a species of deepwater cardinalfish found in most temperate oceans worldwide, at depths of between 75 and 1,200 metres (246 and 3,937 ft) though mostly between 300 and 800 metres (980 and 2,620 ft).

The dorsal fin is in two parts and has seven or eight spines and nine to eleven soft rays.

The general colour of this fish is purplish-brown or black and living specimens are iridescent.

[2] The black cardinal fish is a deepwater bentho-pelagic fish that is found on continental slopes, undersea ridges and seamounts in the northern Atlantic, ranging from Iceland to the Canary Islands and the Corner Rise Seamounts.

[2] The black cardinal fish is subject to commercial fisheries, primarily around seamounts.