Species: Peristedion brevirostre, Flathead Armored Searobin

Peristedion brevirostre (Gunther, 1860)

Flathead Armored Searobin

Head and body flattened below, body completely covered in a heavy armor of 4 rows of bony spiny scales; body low and moderately broad; head wide, flat, bony rim around its side edge wide, ending in a large spine; large spine at nostril, no spine at base of snout plates; snout long and very broad, rostral plates very short (length usually < eye), broad based; barbels: 1 very long lower lip barbel; 32-42 chin barbels in 7 clusters; preopercular spine long; opercular spine very long; dorsal fin divided into separate spiny and soft parts, VIII + 17, both parts high; anal fin without spines, 17; pectoral fin 12 + 2 free rays, fin is long; pelvic fins wide apart, below base of pectorals, I,5 rays; front edge of first spiny plate under belly at or before bony pelvic girdle.

Head and body reddish.

Reaches 28 cm.

Found on sand/mud and hard bottoms.

Depth range: 55-550 m.

The Gulf of Mexico and eastern Florida to the S Caribbean.