Species: Trinectes microphthalmus, Smalleye Sole

Trinectes microphthalmus (Chabanaud, 1928)

Smalleye Sole

Body oval; eyes on right side, tiny, 33-40% of snout length; head short and deep; front margin of head with short tentacles; snout rounded; mouth small, oblique, a little under snout; lips fleshy; rear edge of preopercle covered with skin, visible as a superficial groove; gill openings wide, united before pelvic fins; without opening connecting gill chambers on both sides; dorsal 45-54 rays, origin above lower eye; anal rays 32-40; no pectoral fins; pelvic fin on eye side fused to anal; lateral line from head to tail, straight, with perpendicular branches running across body; body covered with rough scales; scales on front of head enlarged, 4-5 rows on preopercle, 8-10 rows on opercle.

Color of preserved fish; upper surface yellowish, with fine dense reticulating brown lines; tail fin pale, edge dark; lower surface white.

Size: to 9 cm.

Habitat: brackish lagoons (main habitat) to coastal marine conditions.

Depth: 1-30 m?

Trinidad and Tobago to SE Brazil.