Species: Xenolepidichthys dalgleishi, Spotted tinselfish

Xenolepidichthys dalgleishi Gilchrist, 1922

Spotted tinselfish

Body diamond-shaped, strongly compressed; body depth much greater than head length, 80-120% of SL; eyes large; head bones soft and thin; mouth minute, top jaw length ½ of eye diameter; jaws with a few minute conical teeth, none on roof of mouth; soft rays of dorsal, anal and pectoral unbranched; dorsal fin V + 27-30, 1st spine large, robust and serrated in adult, 1st 2 spines greatly elongated in juvenile; a row of 29 small spines along each side of dorsal & anal fin bases; anal fin II + 27-35, 1st spine greatly elongated in juvenile, elongated, strong and serrated in adult; pectoral fin 14-15 rays, much shorter than head; pelvics I, 6; 29 small spiny scutes along dorsal fin base, 26-27 along anal fin base: scales are vertically elongated, over most of head and body; tail fin short, blunt, 13 branched rays.