Species: Hollardia hollardi, Reticulate Spikefish

Hollardia hollardi Poey, 1861

Reticulate Spikefish

Body deep, slightly compressed; mouth small, opens at front; snout short, (~1/3 of head); teeth conical, 1 series on each jaw; top teeth 17.5 (13-22), bottom teeth 22 (15-30); gill opening a short vertical slit before pectoral base; gill rakers 17.5 (15-20); dorsal fin origin usually behind top edge of pectoral base; VI dorsal spines, the first long and strong, decreasing in size to rear, spines can be locked upright, 17 (16-18) soft rays; pectoral 17 (15-18) rays; anal fin 17 (16-18); fin rays branched; pelvic fin with a large spine and 1 inconspicuous ray; ventral surface of scale-covered part of pelvis rounded; pelvis relatively wide (its width between the pelvic spines ~25% of its length); bases of unerected pelvic spines well separated; skin thick, rough, covered with numerous small scales, each with tiny spines.

Head and body pale pinkish above, fading to whitish below; upper 2/3-3/4 of head and body with irregular reticulating red lines; soft dorsal, tail and anal fins whitish, with a pale pink band across the center of each fin; dorsal and pelvic spines white; lining of stomach cavity very dark, often speckled or blotched with darker areas; inside gill cavity with irregular dark blotches.

Reaches 18 cm.

Demersal on mud bottoms.

Depth range: 230-915 m.

Bermuda to Suriname.