Species: Polyprion americanus, Wreckfish

Polyprion americanus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Wreckfish

Body oblong, moderately deep, moderately compressed, grouper-like in shape; head spiny between eyes and on nape, rough in young fish; snout smooth; a bony knob over eyes; nape with a ridge; mouth opens at front, lower jaw strongly projecting; end of top jaw broad, exposed; jaw teeth small, no canines; small teeth in patches on roof of mouth and on tongue; upper operculum with a distinctive horizontal bony ridge that ends in a short spine, which has a small spine above; dorsal fin with XI-XII strong spines, 11-12 soft rays, a moderate notch between the 2 parts; end of tail fin straight in adults, rounded in juveniles; pectorals rounded, shorter than pelvics; anal fin II strong spines, 9-10 soft rays; scales small, very rough, covering body, head (except snout) and jaws; lateral line ends before tail fin.

Dark slate grey to brownish, lighter below; pelagic juveniles mottled in shades of grey.

Reaches 200 cm, 100 kg; reaches 80 years

Marine, on rocky bottoms

Depth range: 42-1028 m.

Temperate W and E Atlantic; Newfoundland to Argentina.