Species: Uraspis secunda, Cottonmouth jack

Uraspis secunda (Poey, 1860)

Cottonmouth jack

Oblong, moderately compressed; snout rounded; mouth reaches under front part of eye; teeth small, pointed, curved, in bands in small fish, 1 row in large fish; gill rakers (excluding rudiments) 3-8 + 13-16; dorsal rays VIII+I, 27-32, first dorsal a low triangle, posterior spines of first dorsal fin may become embedded with growth); anal rays II (embedded in all but very young fish) + I, 19-23; pectorals longer than head, curved; no isolated finlets behind dorsal and anal fins; anal spines reduced or absent; tail base slender; tail strongly forked; with 26-40 small scutes (hard, spiny scales) on straight part of lateral line, those at rear point forwards; small scales over most of body, absent on breast and on base of pectoral, operculum partly scaled; lateral line with pronounced arch anteriorly.