Species: Stellifer oscitans, Yawning stardrum

Stellifer oscitans (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882)

Yawning stardrum

Body oblong, compressed; head large, broad, skull cavernous, translucent, but not spongy to touch, wide between eyes; snout blunt, barely or not projecting beyond upper jaw; mouth opens at front, strongly oblique; teeth in villiform bands, those in outer row of upper jaw enlarged; chin with 6 pores, central pair separated by a bony crest, no barbells; snout with 8 pores; margin of preopercle with 2 strong spines, lower one directed down and back; gill rakers long and slender, 42-52; dorsal rays IX-X + II-III, 21-25, deep notch between spiny and soft parts of dorsal fin; anal fin with short base II, 8 (8-9), 2nd  spine strong, longer than 1st  ray; pectorals long, pointed, reach past anus; pelvic fins without a filament; tail margin with a short, blunt point; scales rough on body, smooth on head, breast, before front of dorsal fin and fins; soft dorsal and anal fins covered with smooth scales; lateral line pores 47-52.