Family: Latilidae, Deepwater Tilefish, Deepwater Tilefishes
nape with ridge
gill rakers 18-26
FAMILY LATILIDAE
DEEPWATER TILEFISHES
Body quadriform, head rounded; body depth 21 to 34% (usually 29%) of standard length; predorsal ridge (a raised seam in front of dorsal fin) prominent (may form flap in Lopholatilus), or may be reduced, but always present; preopercle finely serrated on upper limb to angle or just below, lower limb with fine, few, or no serrae; preopercle angle 85 to 110 degrees; opercle with a single soft, blunt spine (Lopholatilus), or a stout notched spine (Caulolatilus); total gill rakers on first gill arch 18 to 26 (usually 20); dorsal and anal fins long and continuous; length of dorsal-fin base 52 to 68% standard length; anal-fin base 27 to 44% standard length; dorsal fin VI-VIII,15-26; anal fin I-II, 13-25; caudal fin truncate, double, or slightly emarginate.
An Atlantic and Indo-west Pacific family with 3 genera and 30 species; two genera and 9 species in our area.
PREPARED BY D ROSS ROBERTSON, AFTER DOOLEY (2002)
