Genus: Helicolenus, Blackbelly Rosefish, Rosefishes
no pit behind eyes
D XII, 11.5+
roof mouth + side teeth
ridge under eye - no spines
ridge under eye - no spines
preoperculum - 2nd spine largest
HELICOLENUS
ROSEFISHES
Head very bony, with low spines; ridge under eye without spines; no pit on top of head behind eyes; 2nd (below top) preopercular spine the largest; dorsal XII, 11.5 or more; anal III, 5; pectoral with upper rays branched in adult, lower rays with tips extending beyond fin membrane; roof of mouth with teeth on sides but not at center; scales rough; lateral line with tubes on scales, complete.
A circumglobal tropical to temperate genus with ~12 species; one transatlantic species in our area.
