Family: PERISTEDIIDAE, Armored Sea-Robins, Armored-Gurnards
head large, bony, spiny
snout with 2 bony plates
snout with 2 bony plates
D VII-VIII + 17-20
armor & spines cover body
under mouth - barbels
pectoral - 2 long free rays + fin
FAMILY PERISTEDIIDAE
ARMORED SEA-ROBINS, ARMORED-GURNARDS
The head and body flattened below and completely covered in a heavy armor of bony plates and spines; snout extended in a bony two-pointed rostrum; barbels below the lower jaw; dorsal fin VII-VIII + 17-20, divided into spiny and soft parts; pectoral fin with main fin (11-13) plus 2 free rays below; anal fin without spines; pelvic fins are wide apart, below base of pectorals, with I, 5 rays.
There are four genera and about 40 known species in the family. In our area there is one circumglobal genus with 12 species in our area (5 endemic, 1 NW Atlantic and 6 W Atlantic).
PREPARED BY D ROSS ROBERTSON, AFTER MILLER & RICHARDS (2002)
