Species: Bullisichthys caribbaeus, Pugnose Bass

Bullisichthys caribbaeus Rivas, 1971

Pugnose Bass

Body elongate, compressed; head short, snout very short, concave; eye very large; opercle with 3 spines; front nostril tubular; rear of top jaw exposed when mouth closed; anus closer to insertion of pelvic fins than to anal fin; dorsal fin X, 13-14, no notch between spines and rays; anal fin III, 7; pelvics I, 5; lateral line complete, curves up under front of dorsal fin; scales rough, cover head, body and tail fin base.

Body pale pinkish grey, with whitish blotches; a vertical black bar through eye that continues obliquely back to the center of the nape; dorsal fin with a large black blotch covering the first 4 spines, rest of fin with horizontal rows of whitish spots, tips of spines yellow; a white bordered black spot on upper tail base and a matching white-bordered red-brown spot on lower tail base; tail fin with yellowish base and irregular thin pale brown bars; anal fin with rows of whitish spots; pelvis whitish, with clear stripes.

Reaches 7 cm.

Deep reefs.

Depth range: 81-548 m.

The Bahamas to the S Caribbean.