Species: Alphestes afer, Mutton Hamlet

Alphestes afer (Bloch, 1793)

Mutton Hamlet

Body deep, strongly compressed; head deep, with straight, oblique front profile; large eyes, close together on tip of snout; snout shorter than eye; preopercle serrated, with large forward-curving spine hidden at lower front corner; rear of top jaw exposed when mouth closed; roof of mouth with small teeth; 3-5 rows of small teeth on each jaw, a pair of small canines at front of both jaws, most of teeth movable; gill rakers 22-25; dorsal with XI spines, 17-29 rays, with little or no notch between spiny and soft parts; anal rays III,9; pectoral rays 16-17; tail rounded; flank scales smooth; 55-61 scales on lateral line.

Olive to light brown with darker brown blotches forming irregular bars on side; also numerous dark brown and pale spots, and larger pale blotches on head and body; iris red; pectoral fins with brown spots forming bars.

Size: reaches 33 cm.

Habitat: secretive, in sponges, rocks around seagrass.

Depth: 0-35 m.

Bermuda to Brazil; also found in the tropical E Atlantic.