Species: Peristedion ecuadorense, Pyramidnose Armored Searobin

Peristedion ecuadorense Teague, 1961

Pyramidnose Armored Searobin

Head and body flattened below, body completely covered in a heavy armor of 4 rows of bony spiny scales; head very wide, moderately depressed, snout long and very broad; bony rim around sides of head edge wide, undulating edge, ending in a broad triangle that may be rounded; rostral plates very short, very broad, triangular; no spine at nostril, strong spine at base of snout plates; mouth very small; barbels: lip barbells - 1 long filamentous barbell long + 5 in 3 clusters (2,1,2); 11-13 chin barbels in 4-5 clusters; gill rakers 3-4+23-24; dorsal fin divided into separate spiny and soft parts, VIII + 16-19, both parts low; anal fin without spines, 18-21, fin low; pectoral fin 12 + 2 free rays, fin & free rays very short; pelvic fins wide apart, below base of pectorals, I,5 rays, extremely short; front edge of first spiny plate under belly behind front edge of bony pelvic girdle.

Head and body reddish with blotches of yellow-brown; outer half of both dorsals and of pectoral black.

Reaches 24 cm.

Found on sand/mud bottoms.

Depth range: 325-1080 m.

Virginia to Brazil.