Species: Rypticus carpenteri, Slope Soapfish

Rypticus carpenteri Baldwin & Weigt, 2012

Slope Soapfish

Body elongate, very compressed; forehead oblique; 2 pairs of nostrils, anterior tubular; lower jaw prominently projecting, with a fleshy knob at front; rear of top jaw exposed when mouth closed, without accessory bone above it; pores on lower jaw in patches; simple teeth in bands on jaws; 1-3 spines on preopercle; 3 spines on operculum; gill opening restricted above, most of upper part of operculum bound to body by skin; gill rakers 9 (8-10); dorsal fin III-IV (usually IV), 21 (20-23); anal fin 0, 14 (13-15); pectoral rays 15 (14-16); median fins thick, fleshy; rounded tail and pectoral fins; scales imbedded.

Head and body pale yellow-brown; pectoral fins and edges of dorsal, anal and tail fins yellow; head and body with many dark spots, rear spots small; a single spot slightly behind upper part of each eye; belly with dark spots; tail fin and sometimes soft dorsal and anal fins with at least a few, often tiny spots.

Size: to 10 cm.

Inhabits coral and rocks on steep slopes and walls

Depth: 3-40 m, usually between 6-30 m.

Bermuda to the S Caribbean.