Species: Platygillellus rubrocinctus, Saddle Stargazer

Platygillellus rubrocinctus (Longley, 1934)

Saddle Stargazer

Body elongate, compressed, tapering to tail; head robust, profile angular to rounded; eyes on top of head, not on stalks; tubular nostrils; mouth upturned, with a protruding lower jaw; top and bottom lips with skin flaps, 6-15 on top lips, 11-19 (7-21) on lower lips; upper part of operculum with a frill of skin flaps; dorsal fin originates on nape, in two sections, III spined front finlet about same height as rest of fin, main part of fin with a notch between spines and rays, XV-XVII, 16 (14-17); anal fin II, 25 (23-27); pelvic fins inserted under throat, each with I, 3, rays thickened and free at the tips; lateral line continuous, bends down abruptly under last dorsal spine, 21-25 scales on arched part, 15-19 on straight part; scales large, smooth, head scaleless, belly and pectoral base with scales.

Whitish, with 4 dark bars, those on body ranging from very wide to narrower Vs, 1st on nape, from dorsal finlet through operculum, 3 on body extend nearly to lower profile, last one just before tail fin, may have spots between bars.

Reaches 4.8 cm.

Lives in sand in sand-rubble areas around reefs.

Depth range: 0-31 m.

Florida to the S Caribbean. Its Brazilian sister species is P. brasiliensis.