Species: Bellator ribeiroi, Caribbean Searobin

Bellator ribeiroi Miller, 1965

Caribbean Searobin

Spiny projections at front of snout thin and horn-like, with small spines at front, extend well past tip of snout; mouth long, reaches under front edge of eye; 1 large spine on preoperculum; spine behind operculum large, reaches past large spine on upper operculum; dorsal fin XI, 1st spine very long in male, reaching past tail fin, 11-12; anal 11-12 (usually 11) rays; pectoral fins short, 12 joined rays, reaching just past origin of anal fin, with 3 enlarged, free rays at bottom of fin, free rays shorter than fin; chest scaled; membrane above opercular spine without scales; nape not scaled.

Upper 1/3 of head and body red-brown; flanks with 4-5 large dark spots; 1st dorsal brown, a dark spot between spines IV-V; 2nd dorsal red, with 3 yellow stripes; upper lobe of tail with 4 wide yellow stripes, lower part red; front base of anal fin red, rear base white; pelvics red; pectoral rays red, upper border with small dark spots, tip and lower margin of fin black.

Size: 16 cm.

Habitat: sand and mud bottoms.

Depth: 40-145 m.

Honduras to Brazil.