Species: Porichthys plectrodon, Atlantic Midshipman

Porichthys plectrodon Jordan & Gilbert, 1882

Atlantic Midshipman

Body compressed, elongate; head a little flattened above, no tentacles; 1 strong solid spine on opercle, no subopercular spines; teeth like canines; 10-17 gill rakers; gill openings restricted to side, before pectoral fin base; dorsal rays II (solid) + 33-39; anal rays 30-36; pectoral fin 16-19 rays; discrete glands on inner surface of pectoral between upper fin rays, no pore behind pectoral fin base; four lateral lines with conspicuous rows of light organs; row of light organs behind that on chin has a U shape, with a central, forward-pointing extension; no scales.

Tan above, paler below; rows of alternating large dark spots along upper head and back, upper row extending onto base of dorsal fin, sometimes with ~7 brown saddles along upper body; dorsal fin with a row of small dark spots along center and a thin dark outer margin; anal fin with broad dark outer margin; tail fin dark, with a pale central bar.

Size: grows to 29 cm.

Inhabits sand and mud bottoms.

Depth: 10-370 m.

Virginia to Brazil.