Species: Parascombrops spinosus, Keelcheek Bass

Parascombrops spinosus (Schultz, 1940)

Keelcheek Bass

Body elongate, tapering, body depth 26-33% of SL, depth distinctly < head length; snout very short; eye huge; broad and flat between eyes; mouth large, bone of top jaw expanded at rear & largely exposed when mouth is closed, ends ~under mid-eye; top jaws with 1 pair of canines at front, then bands of simple teeth, lower jaw with 1-2 pairs of canines at front, then simple teeth, also with canines at sides; preopercle with strong teeth, 2-3 small keels at lower rear edge; rear of opercle with 1-2 flat points; gill membranes separate, free from underside of head; gill rakers: 11-16 lower, total 17-20; dorsal fin IX + I, 8-9, a distinct gap between the 2 sections; anal fin II, 7 rays; front edge serrated on 1st pelvic spine, and on 2nd spine of 1st dorsal and anal fins; tail fin forked; pectorals longer than pelvics; scales large, smooth, easily shed; scales on cheeks, operculum with or without scales; lateral line continuous, with 29-31 tubed scales.

Brownish grey; upper scales on body with dark rear edges; outer membrane of 1st dorsal fin black; gill cavity black.

Reaches 16.5 cm.

Near and above the bottom in deep water.

Depth range: 75-825 m.

W Atlantic; N Carolina to Suriname.

Note: records from the W Pacific likely represent another species.