Species: Peristedion species T, Antillean Armored Searobin

Peristedion species T

Antillean Armored Searobin

Head and body flattened below, body completely covered in a heavy armor of 4 rows of bony spiny scales; body not rectangular, dimensions at anus < dimensions at head; narrow & strongly concave between eyes; head long, narrow; bony rim around sides of head very narrow, finely serrated, ends in a small, sharp spine; no spine at nostril, no spine at base of snout plates; snout long; rostral plates narrow, long, directed straight to front; barbels: long filamentous barbell short, at most reaching to level of eye; 5-7 lower lip barbells; 41-43 (34-57) chin barbells; dorsal fin divided into separate spiny and soft parts, VIII + 18-19, both parts low; anal fin without spines, 19; pectoral fin 12 + 2 free rays, 1st free ray shorter than main fin; pelvic fins wide apart, below base of pectorals, I, 5 rays.

Head and body bicolored, upper half pale pink with yellow blotches, lower half silvery white; eye yellow; 1st dorsal translucent, tipped in white; 2nd dorsal translucent, fin rays yellow; tail fin pink, rear of lower lobe red; anal fin translucent, edge white; pectorals pale yellowish.

Reaches 19 cm.

Found on sand/mud bottoms.

Depth range: 220-550 m.

The Bahamas to the SW Caribbean.