Distinguishing Characteristics |
Body oval, deep, compressed; color silvery, no markings except faint narrow bars in young; head profile straight except for bump around eyes, convex above shoulder; mouth small; front teeth in both jaws in close-set rows, the outer row slightly larger, teeth spatulate-shaped (narrower on the attached ends); 1st 2 dorsal spines very small, the 1st projected forward; the 3rd-5th dorsal spines long and filamentous; posterior nostril slit-like; pectoral fins long, reaching past anal fin origin. |
Similar Species |
Differs from other porgies by having a shorter body and filamentous spines (3rd-5th) in the dorsal fin, the 3rd 1 elongate. |
Habitat |
Gulf, prefers mud bottoms |
Maximum Size |
30 cm (12 in), common to 15 cm (6 in) |
Fin Element Counts |
D. XII,12; A. III,12 (explain) |
Other Common Names |
|
Previous Scientific Names |
|
Comments |
|
State size/bag limits |
None; Check for state record. |