Species: Peristedion thompsoni, Rimspine armored searobin

Peristedion thompsoni Fowler, 1952

Rimspine armored searobin

Head and body low, broad, flattened below, body completely covered in a heavy armor of 4 rows of bony spiny scales;  wide between eyes; head high, long, very broad; bony rim around sides of head not very wide, ends in a flat, sharp spine; small spine at nostril in juvenile, small spine at base of snout plates; snout short, broad; rostral plates very short, broad; lower jaw with 1 serrated ridge; barbels: filamentous barbel short (slightly > longest chin barbel), heavily filamented from base to tip; 5 or 6-12 thin lower lip barbells in 2 clusters; 12-18 flat, sharply pointed chin barbels in 4 clusters; gill rakers 2 + 18-22; dorsal fin divided into separate spiny and soft parts, VII + 15, both parts very high; anal fin without spines, 16, variable height; pectoral fin 12 + 2 free rays, fin long, free rays variable length; pelvic fins wide apart, moderately long, below base of pectorals, I,5 rays; front edge of first spiny plate under belly at or before front of bony pelvic girdle.

Head and body probably reddish.

Reaches 29 cm.

Found on sand/mud bottoms.

Depth range: 115-475 m.

North Carolina to Brazil.