Species: Peristedion greyae, Alligator Searobin, Alligator Armored Searobin

Peristedion greyae Miller, 1967

Alligator Searobin, Alligator Armored Searobin

Head and body flattened below, body completely covered in a heavy armor of 4 rows of bony spiny scales, those at rear of series along center of top of back with 2 spines; head moderately broad, snout moderately long; bony rim around side of head with edge serrated & rippled, with a strong concavity at preopercle, ending in a flat triangle; no spine at nostril, large spine at base of snout plates; rostral plates moderately long & narrow, slightly diverging; lower jaw with 2-3 separate serrated ridges; mouth barbels: lower lips with 1 moderately long (16-18% SL, not reaching to end of facial rim) filamentous barbell + 2 groups of 2 short slender barbells; 12-13 slender chin barbels in 5 clusters; gill rakers 5-7 +19-26; dorsal fin divided into separate spiny and soft parts, VIII + 18-20, both parts high; anal fin without spines, 18-20; pectoral fin 11-13 + 2 free rays, top free ray extends past anal fin origin; pelvic fins wide apart, below base of pectorals, I,5 rays; front edge of first spiny plate under belly behind front of bony pelvic girdle.

Head and body pink; fins with dark red edges; pectorals with multiple dark red to blackish bars, white borders; lining of gut cavity and roof of mouth not dark.

Reaches 28 cm.

Found on sand/mud bottoms, primarily continental.

Depth range: 180-1071 m.

Virginia to northern Brazil.