Species: Sladenia shaefersi, Atlantic Twospine Goosefish, Shaefer's Anglerfish

Sladenia shaefersi Caruso & Bullis, 1976

Atlantic Twospine Goosefish, Shaefer's Anglerfish

Head rounded (not depressed); nape distinctly humped; tail compressed (not depressed); ridge from top of eye to snout smooth; head spines few, low and rounded, barely discernable through skin; teeth relatively small, slender, comb-like; teeth in center of roof of mouth larger than those on sides; dorsal fin: section on head without 3rd spine, 1st 2 spines very close, 1st spine (fishing pole) with thin whiplike tip, 2nd spine slender, ½ length of first, section behind head with I vestigial embedded spine (ie. dorsal spines III, V & VI absent); 2nd dorsal fin 8-9; anal fin 6; pectoral 19; pelvic fin I, 5; skin with numerous small pointed cirri in irregular rows and patches on head, lower jaw and pectoral and tail fins.

Head body and fins mid-gray; upper ¾ of head and body with numerous pale irregular rosettes and small patches of reticulating pale lines.

Reaches 101 cm.

Lives on rocky substrata

Depth range 689-1200 m

South Carolina to northern S America and the lesser Antilles.