Species: Ogcocephalus rostellum, Palefin Batfish

Ogcocephalus rostellum Bradbury, 1980

Palefin Batfish

Head depressed, relatively small; disc triangular, well flattened; snout pointed, rostrum very short, a small cone in juveniles, a shelf in large fish; fish-lure with 3 fleshy points, in a small cavity under horn; eyes on sides of head; mouth relatively small; 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, 13 (11-15) rays; skin covered dorsal fin on tail, small fleshy anal fin, 3-4 rays, under tail; 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, 8 on cheek.

Upper surface medium brown, with white patches; dark mottling in pectoral axilla; fine black lines radiate from tips of large bucklers; an elongate cluster of round dark spots on each shoulder, with a few intense orange spots scattered amongst them; pectoral and tail fins with mottled brown bases, yellow centers and bright orange-red borders, and a narrow black margin; mouth bright red; iris rosy-brass with a circle of tan spots.

Reaches 19 cm.

Habitat soft bottoms.

Depth range: 13-378 m.

North Carolina to Florida.