Species: Serranus chionaraia, Snow Bass

Serranus chionaraia Robins & Starck, 1961

Snow Bass

Body elongate, moderately compressed; snout shorter than eye; rear of top jaw exposed when mouth closed, without accessory bone above it; 3 opercular spines well developed, middle spine large and straight; preopercle regularly serrated, no spur with enlarged spines; gill rakers 14-18; dorsal fin X,10; anal fin III, 7; pelvics inserted before pectoral base; pectoral fin 13-14; tail with slightly concave edge, 13-15 branched rays; scales very rough, relatively large, 6-7 rows of scales on cheek; 45-47 pored lateral line scales; top of head without scales.

Head and upper body brown, that color merging into short irregular bars on upper back, longer bars on tail base; head with several irregular blue stripes; belly with a large bright white blotch; upper and lower edges of tail fin with a row of dark spots; spiny dorsal fin with black outer membranes, and a brown central stripe.

Reaches 6.5 cm.

Reef associated - rocky areas with sand & rubble.

Depth range: 5-93 m.

Florida to Brazil.