Species: Synchiropus goodenbeani, Palefin Dragonet

Synchiropus goodenbeani Nakabo & Hartel, 1999

Palefin Dragonet

Elongate, somewhat depressed; no skin fold along side of belly; head relatively short (length before dorsal fin 22-32% SL); a large, up-curved, two-pointed spine on the preoperculum, but no spines or the operculum; a small mouth that angles down when open, with a protrusible top jaw; gill openings that are small and high on the shoulder; two dorsal fins, IV flexible spines + 8 soft rays, 1st dorsal spine elongate and filamentous in male, edge of 2nd dorsal slightly concave in both sexes; anal fin with 7 rays and no spines; pectorals large, rounded, usually 2 unbranched + 18-21 branched rays; pelvics insert under preopercular spine, large, reach past anal fin origin in males; tail fin long, with filaments in males; lateral line complete, extends onto tail fin; no scales.

Reddish above, white below; 2 wavy yellow lines along sides; first dorsal fin yellow, with a small dark spot between last two dorsal fin spines in juveniles, fin without spot in large fish; 2nd dorsal fin with several irregular rows of yellow spots; anal fin with black stripe near outer edge in female red stripe in male.

Reaches 30 cm.

Lives on soft bottoms.

Depth range: 47-396 m.

Massachusetts to the Gulf of Mexico.