Species: Prognathodes aya, Bank Butterflyfish

Prognathodes aya (Jordan, 1886)

Bank 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, 15, 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 37-40 scales; with a large "axillary process" scale at the upper base of the pelvic fins.

White, sometimes tinged with yellow; a white-bordered black bar angled back from middle of spinous dorsal to end of soft anal; black bar angled forward from front of dorsal fin through eye; rest of dorsal fin yellow and white.

Size: grows to 17 cm.

Habitat: on rocky and coral reefs.

Depth range: 20-179 m.

N Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico; SW Cuba