Species: Rypticus bicolor, Cortez soapfish, Mottled soapfish

Rypticus bicolor Valenciennes, 1846

Mottled soapfish, Cortez soapfish

Elongate, very compressed; forehead oblique; lower jaw prominently projecting, with fleshy knob at front; pores along ventral surface of lower jaw and margin of preopercle numerous, small, and occurring in patches (in specimens in excess of 65 mm SL); simple teeth in bands on jaws; 2 pairs of nostrils, anterior tubular; simple teeth in bands on jaws; 2-3 spines on preopercle; 3 spines on operculum; gill rakers 7-9 (usually 8); gill opening restricted above, most of upper part of operculum bound to body by skin; dorsal fin III (rarely II) spines, 23-26 rays; anal fin without spines, 16-18 rays; pectoral rays 14-17 (usually 16); median fins thick, fleshy; rounded tail and pectoral fins; scales imbedded.