Distinguishing Characteristics |
Body elongate, laterally compressed; color brownish to blue-green above, lighter below; faint yellowish dusky vertical bars; dorsal and anal fins long; dorsal fin yellow-edged with yellow spots beneath, yellowish base; anal fin with yellow spots; head yellow with wavy lines around eyes; caudal fin lunate, upper and lower rays elongate and filamentous, base dusky yellow, edges colorless; mouth medium, ending before eye; lips thick; teeth canine-like, curved rearward; 1 spine on opercle flap. |
Similar Species |
Other tilefishes are not as elongate, have a serrated preopercle and do not have a falcate tail with long, filamentous rays on the outer edges. |
Habitat |
Gulf, sandy areas near reefs and seagrasses |
Maximum Size |
70 cm (27 1/2 in), common to 50 cm (19 1/2 in) |
Fin Element Counts |
D. IV-V,23-25; A. I,48-55 (explain) |
Other Common Names |
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Previous Scientific Names |
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Comments |
Builds mounds out of rubble and sand fragments. |
State size/bag limits |
None; Check for state record. |