Species: Eques punctatus, Spotted Drum

Eques punctatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Spotted Drum

Body oblong, deep at front, tapering to a thin tail base; head low; snout overhangs horizontal mouth; teeth in villiform band, those in outer row of upper jaw slightly enlarged; chin with 5 pores, no barbels; snout with 10 pores; 15-18 short, stout gill rakers; preoperculum nearly smooth edged; top corner of gill opening notched; dorsal fin with long base, deep notch between spiny and soft parts, XII-XIV + I, 45-47, spiny part very high (longer than head); anal fin with short base, II, (2nd strong), 6; pectoral rays 17-18; tail fin with blunt angular point; lower half of second dorsal fin covered with a thick scale sheath; the lateral line extends to the center of the end of the tail fin.

Body white, with 3 broad, black oblique bars, 1 through eye, 1 from nape to pelvic fin and 1 from the 1st dorsal that angles back to form a stripe that runs to base of tail fin; upper back with 2 black stripes; 2nd dorsal fin and tail fin black with white spots. Small juveniles body white + 3 black bars, last bar through dorsal to tail fin; oval black spot on snout; pectoral fin with black stripe.

Maximum size to 25 cm.

Inhabits coastal reefs.

Depth: 4-105 m.

The Gulf of Mexico to Brazil.