Species: Peristedion gracile, Slender Searobin, Temperate Slender Armored Searobin

Peristedion gracile Goode & Bean, 1896

Slender Searobin, Temperate Slender Armored Searobin

Head and body flattened below, body completely covered in a heavy armor of 4 rows of bony spiny scales; body slender, narrow, rectangular in cross section, its depth and width at anus about as great as head; head short, narrow, bony rim around its side narrow, ends in a spine; broad between eyes (width ~snout rostrum length); snout long and narrow, rostral plates moderate to long, narrow, almost parallel; no spines at base of snout rostrum or nostril; very short spine on preoperculum; barbels: 5 lower lip barbels in 2 clusters; 26-36 chin barbels in 7 clusters; dorsal fin divided into separate spiny and soft parts, VIII + 20, spiny part high, soft part low; anal fin without spines, 20-21; pectoral fin 12 + 2 free rays, fin short; pelvic fins wide apart, below base of pectorals, I, 5 rays.

Bicolored, reddish to yellowish above, white below; a dark stripe through middle of dorsal fins; rear edge of tail dark red.

Reaches 20 cm.

Habitat sand/mud and hard bottoms.

Depth range: 29-940 m, usually shallower than 146 m.

Virginia to the Gulf of Mexico; Colombia.