Species: Ogcocephalus declivirostris, Slantbrow Batfish

Ogcocephalus declivirostris Bradbury, 1980

Slantbrow Batfish

Head depressed, relatively low; disc triangular; snout pointed, rostrum a short [17.5 (12-29%) of length of disc edge], narrow-based rod, horizontal or usually sloping downwards; fish-lure with 3 fleshy points, in a small cavity under horn; eyes on sides of head; mouth width 38-71% of head depth; spine at lower rear corner of operculum blunt or little developed; gill rakers are oval plates covered with small teeth; gill openings small, behind upper base of pectoral fin; dorsal and anal fins small, at rear of body; pectoral and pelvic fins limb-like; pectorals completely separated from body, skin on underside of rays thin & without fleshy pads, fin membrane thin and translucent, 10-11 rays; skin covered dorsal fin on tail, small fleshy anal fin (usually 4 rays) under tail; dorsal and anal fins relatively large; top of body with large bucklers as well as conical spines; underside of body completely covered with pointed, bony scales; underside of tail densely covered with small prickles, with sometimes a few conical spines along midline; 6-7 lateral line scales under operculum.

Upper body plain grey-brown, tips of bucklers paler; round spots sometimes clustered on face, shoulders, in pectoral axillae and along sides of tail; juveniles with black-tipped rostrum; spots on face and shoulders strong; pectorals sometimes with darkened tips; dorsal fin dusky, with inconspicuous dark blotches.

Reaches 16.5 cm.

Depth range: 10-388 m, usually < 180 m.

Habitat soft bottoms.

Gulf of Mexico; possibly also Brazil.