Species: Erotelis smaragdus, Emerald Sleeper

Erotelis smaragdus (Valenciennes, 1837)

Emerald Sleeper

Body elongate, robust; head depressed, wide, scaly; snout short, blunt; mouth oblique; upper jaw ending at middle of eye; teeth in jaws small conical, in bands, outer row slightly larger; tongue rounded; preoperculum with concealed hook at its lower rear corner; gill membranes broadly joined to throat, with 6 rays; 2 separate dorsal fins, VI weak spines + I, 10-12, base of 2nd dorsal < distance from the end of that base to tail fin; anal fin I, 9; pelvic fins I, 5, long, completely separate; tail fin broadly rounded, with many short but obvious, spiny rays at the top and bottom of its base; scales small, smooth, 90-110 in lateral series; no lateral line.

Blackish brown with a greenish sheen on top and tan color on bottom; dark spot on upper pectoral fin base; dorsal fins with several dark stripes; tail and anal fins dark.

Reaches: 20.0 cm.

Habitat: demersal; brackish; marine Inhabits sandy to marl bottoms in full-salinity coastal waters and mangrove areas.

Depth: 0-5 m.

North Carolina and Gulf of Mexico to Brazil.