Species: Peristedion truncatum, Black armored searobin

Peristedion truncatum (Gunther, 1880)

Black armored searobin

Head and body flattened below, body low, very broad, completely covered in a heavy armor of 4 rows of bony spiny scales; body not rectangular, dimensions at  anus < dimensions at head; wide between eyes; head moderately long, slightly depressed, moderately wide; bony rim around sides of head not very wide, edge undulating & serrated, ends on a  flat, triangular wing with its rear edge angled slightly forwards; small or absent spine at nostril, small spine at base of snout plates; snout long, depressed; rostral plates moderately long, < snout, straight to slightly diverging; opercular spine long; barbels: filamentous barbel extends to end of bony head rim; 5-6 thin lower lip barbells in 3 clusters; 17-20 very slender chin barbels in 6 clusters; gill rakers 4-5+20-23; dorsal fin divided into separate spiny and soft parts, VIII + 18-19, both parts low; anal fin without spines, 18-19; pectoral fin 12 + 2 free rays, 1st free ray longer than short main fin; pelvic fins wide apart, below base of pectorals, I,5 rays, fins short; front edge of first spiny plate under belly behind front of bony pelvic girdle.

Head and body reddish; outer edge of first dorsal fin dark red; soft dorsal with a double row of dark spots; outer 2/3 of pectoral dark.

Reaches 19 cm.

Found on sand/mud bottoms.

Depth range: 155-910 m.

New Jersey to Brazil