Species: Synchiropus agassizii, Spotfin Dragonet

Synchiropus agassizii (Goode & Bean, 1888)

Spotfin Dragonet

Elongate, a little flattened; without fold of skin along side of abdomen; with a small mouth that points down when opened, top jaw protractile; preopercle with a large, wide-based spine, its tip curved up and with 2 points, but without spines on operculum; gill openings small, high on shoulder; 2 dorsal fins, IV flexible spines + 8 soft rays, 1st dorsal spine not elongated in males, edge of the 2nd dorsal gently convex in males, straight edges in females; anal fin with 7 rays, no spines; pectoral fins large, round, usually with an unbranched ray at front + 19-22 branched rays; pelvic fins inserted below the preopercular spine, large, reach past the origin of the anal fin in males; tail fin large, with filaments in males; lateral line complete, reaches do tail fin; no scales.

Body brillante orange red; rays of tail and pelvic fins yellow; back with irregular yellow-green bars; a large black blotch between the last dorsal spines; anal fin of both sexes with a black stripe (edged with brilliant orange) near its outer edge.

Reaches 25 cm.

Habitat: Sandy and muddly bottoms.

Depth range: 45-700 m.

From Canada to northern Brazil.

Note: Populations along northern S America probably represent 2-3 undescribed species (see Nakabo & Hartel, 1999).