Genus: Lobotes, Tripletails
large round lobes of D & A = 2 extra "tails"
roof of mouth no teeth
operculum without exposed spines
LOBOTES
TRIPLETAILS
Body oval to oblong, somewhat compressed; top jaw slightly protrusible; no teeth on roof of mouth; preopercle strongly serrated; operculum with 2 flat, hidden spines; dorsal fin with XII strong spines, 15-16 soft rays, no notch between spiny and soft part; anal fin III, 11; soft dorsal and anal fins high, with rounded ends, reaching well past base of tail fin, giving appearance to symmetrical extra tails; pectorals shorter than pelvics; tail fin rounded, with 15 branched rays; scales moderate sized, rough, covering body and head except before and below eyes and jaws, bases of dorsal and anal fins scaled.
A circumtropical genus with 2 species; one of which apparently is endemic to the tropical eastern Pacific.
