Genus: Rypticus, Soapfish Grouper, Soapfishes
forehead oblique
D II-III
median fins thick, fleshy
upper edge operculum bound to body
spines - operculum 3, preoperculum 2-3
A no spines
RYPTICUS
SOAPFISHES
Body elongate, very compressed; forehead oblique; 2 pairs of nostrils, anterior tubular; lower jaw projecting; rear of top jaw exposed when mouth closed, without accessory bone above it; simple teeth in bands on jaws; 2-3 spines on preopercle; 3 spines on operculum; gill opening restricted above, most of upper part of operculum bound to body by skin; dorsal fin II-III, 23-28; anal fin without spines, 14-18 rays; median fins thick, fleshy; rounded tail and pectoral fins; scales imbedded.
A tropical genus of 9 species found in the east and west Atlantic as well as the tropical eastern Pacific; in our region there are 6 species, 2 endemics, 1 NW Atlantic, 1 W Atlantic and 2 trans-Atlantic species.
