Species: Paralabrax dewegeri, Vieja Parrot Rock-bass, Vieja Parrot Bass

Paralabrax dewegeri (Metzelaar, 1919)

Vieja Parrot Rock-bass, Vieja Parrot Bass

Body elongate, compressed; head pointed; front nostril a short tube with a fringed flap; flat between eyes; mouth large, rear of top jaw exposed when mouth closed, without accessory bone above it, without scales; teeth fixed, not depressible; roof of mouth with teeth on sides and center; preoperculum evenly rounded, finely serrated; operculum with 3 spines, upper spine blunt, inconspicuous, other 2 spines sharp, exposed; gill rakers 21; dorsal X, 13-14, 3rd and 4th spines elongate, longer than longest rays; anal rays III, 7; soft dorsal and anal fin ends rounded; pectoral rays 16-17; pelvics inserted under or slightly behind pectoral base; tail straight,13-15 branched rays; scales small, rough, 55-58 on lateral line.

Head and upper back with orange and brown spots; lower body white, with ~6 dark bars; fins (except pectorals) covered with numerous brown spots; base of pectoral with a large dark blotch at front and a thin bar behind.

Size: grows to 43 cm.

Inhabits rocky reefs and soft coral beds, and rubble areas, enters brackish water.

Depth: 10-182 m.

Venezuela to northern Brazil.