Species: Caulolatilus microps, Blueline Tilefish

Caulolatilus microps Goode & Bean, 1878

Blueline Tilefish

Body robust, quadrangular; head relatively deep, deep under eye; steep rounded in profile; fleshy ridge along midline before dorsal fin; eye small; operculum with a short, blunt spine; vertical edge of preoperculum serrated; no barbel on rear edge of top lip; mouth small, ends half way between nostrils and eye; 21-27 gill rakers; dorsal fin VII (rarely VIII), 24-27 rays; anal II, 21-24; tail fin straight to slightly concave; scales rough on body, smooth on head; pored lateral line scales 80-90; no scales on bone between preoperculum and operculum.

Back and upper sides grey brown; ridge along nape black; snout turquoise with a narrow gold stripe under eye, a broad, oblique blue bar, from under rear edge of eye to center of mouth; preoperculum yellow; dorsal fin with grey membrane, and indistinct yellow areas, outer margin yellow; anal fin white, central dark stripe; tail fin rays with several vertical rows of yellow spots.

Reaches 90 cm., 10.5 kg

Lives on mud and rubble bottoms.

Depth range: 30-236 m, common at 50-200 m.

Virginia to the Gulf of Mexico.