Species: Prognathodes aculeatus, Longsnout Butterflyfish

Prognathodes aculeatus (Poey, 1860)

Longsnout Butterflyfish

Body a strongly compressed oval disc; mouth small, at end of a moderately long, pointed snout; cheek bone free and smooth; teeth long and slender, brush-like, in bands on jaws; dorsal fin XIII 18-19, fin triangular, with front spines longest, membranes between anterior dorsal spines deeply incised; anal rays III, 14-16, 2nd anal spine longer than 3rd; pectoral rays 13; rear edges of dorsal and anal fins vertical; tail edge straight to rounded; scales rough, covering head and body, a low scaly sheath on base of dorsal fin; lateral line in a high arch, incomplete (ends under dorsal fin), with 39-43 scales; with a large "axillary process" scale at the upper base of the pelvic fins.

Upper body yellow-orange at front, becoming dark brown on and under the spiny dorsal fin; an angled yellow-brown bar through eye; an orange bar from soft dorsal fin down across tail base; pelvics and anal fin yellow.

Size: grows to 9.5 cm.

Habitat: rocky and coral reefs.

Depth range: 1-177 m, commonest at 15-55 m.

N Carolina to Guyana. Its Brazilian sister species is P. brasiliensis.