Longfin Velvetfish

This species is distinguished by having the following characters: Dorsal fin XIII-XV, 14-15; anal fin I, 11-13; pectoral fin II; pelvic fin I, 3; all fin rays unbranched. Dorsal fin high, with membrane not or only slightly incised, anterior portion distinctly raised, originating on cranium almost one eye diameter before anterior margin of eye. Pelvic fins long and slender, reaching about two-thirds distance to anus. Head and body highly compressed, body width 6.4-6.9 in SL; frontal bone with non-prominent laterally-bowed ridges, a shallow fleshy depression in their interspace; fleshy cirri densely arranged on margin and ventral surface of mandible; anterior tip of isthmus tree; modified scales densely arranged on head and body; bands of minute villi form teeth in jaws and on vomer; no teeth on palatines; vertebrae 30 (Ref. 57897).

Dorsal spines (total): 13 - 15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 15; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 11 - 13

Taken by scallop trawls over predominantly sandy bottom, with some scattered shell and rubble. Brown algae Padina sp. and smaller amounts of the rubble and seagrasses Halophila ovalis and H. spinulosa, were recorded in the catch (Ref. 57897).