Species: Peristedion unicuspis, Enigma Armored Searobin
face rim: undulating, spiny, end - wide triangular wing
top rear back spines - 1 point
pectoral: 1st free ray v long

inside mouth v dark
Peristedion unicuspis Miller, 1967
Enigma 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 1 back-pointing spine; body not rectangular, dimensions at anus < dimensions at head; head moderately broad; snout long, depressed; bony rim around sides of head with spines and undulations, ends in broad triangular wing; no spine at nostril, no spine at base of snout plates; rostral plates narrow, moderately long, < snout, directed to front; lower jaw with 1 serrated ridge; barbels: filamentous barbell very long, reaches to end of 1st body scute, with filaments in pairs on 1 side, singletons on the other; 4 thin lower lip barbells in 2 clusters; 8-9 chin barbels in 5 clusters, barbell tips pointed; gill rakers 5+21; dorsal fin divided into separate spiny and soft parts, VIII + 19-20, both parts low; anal fin without spines, 19; pectoral fin 12 + 2 free rays, 1st free ray longer than main fin; 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 pale grey; inside of rear of mouth and lining of body cavity very dark; 1st dorsal with outer half of front 5 spines black; 2nd dorsal with a few scattered dark spots, no dark margin; center of pectoral fin with a small black spot.
Reaches 16 cm.
Found on sand/mud bottoms.
Depth range: 356-530 m.
The Bahamas.

High Resolution Map Download
- Salinity
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- Marine
- Marine Only
- Inshore/Offshore
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- Inshore
- Inshore Only
- Water Column Position
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- Bottom
- Bottom only
- Habitat
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- Sand & gravel
- Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
- Soft bottom only
- Mud
- FishBase Habitat
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- Bathydemersal
- Feeding Group
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- Carnivore
- Data
- Diet
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- Data
- Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
- Mobile benthic worms
- Egg Type
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- Data
- Pelagic
- Pelagic larva
- Global Endemism
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- All species
- Greater Caribbean endemic
- Regional Endemism
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- Bahamas endemic
- GC endemic
- Island (s)
- Island (s) only
- All species
- Residency
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- Resident
- Climate Zone
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- Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
- Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
- IUCN Red List
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- Data deficient
- Listed
- CITES
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- Not listed
- Length Max
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- 16
- Depth Range Min
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- 356
- Depth Range Max
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- 530