Species: Selene brownii, Caribbean Moonfish, Full Moonfish

Selene brownii (Cuvier, 1816)

Caribbean Moonfish, Full Moonfish

Body short, very deep in adults, depth at 2nd dorsal origin 61-66% of fork length, extremely compressed; lower profile more convex than upper profile; head profile very steep, rounded at top and concave before eyes; snout blunt, lower jaw protruding; gill rakers 31-34 (30-36); dorsal fin VIII (1st 4 spines filamentous in juveniles, with 2nd spine ~= body depth) + I, 21-23, front lobe slightly elongated; anal fin II (in juveniles only) + I, 17-19; pelvic fins very small; no finlets after 2nd dorsal and anal fins; pectoral long, curved; tail base slender; tail strongly forked; straight part of lateral line with poorly developed, small scutes (hard spiny scales); scales very small, imbedded in skin, body appears scaleless.

Silvery; a faint dark spot on edge of operculum, another on top of tail base; small juveniles with an oval black spot over straight part of lateral line.

Reaches 29 cm.

Marine, demersal, on the continental shelf.

Depth: 1- 55 m?

Cuba to Brazil.