Distinguishing Characteristics |
Body elongate, laterally compressed; color brown-gray on back, belly lighter; narrow gold and blue stripes from eye to mouth in fresh specimens; eye gold colored; dorsal fin long with no distinct markings except yellow band on margins; anal fin a little more than 1/2 length of dorsal, also with yellow margins; top of head rounded; snout pointed; mouth small, ending about 1/2 way between nostril and eye; interopercle (area below the angle of preopercle) scaleless; opercle with 1 flat spine pointing posteriorly; no dark spot above pectoral fin axil. |
Similar Species |
All other tilefish have a larger mouth the reaches at least to anterior margin of eye and have a dark spot above pectoral fin axil. The blackline tilefish also has blue stripes under eye but has scales on its interopercle and distinct markings on its dorsal fin. |
Habitat |
Gulf, mud and rubble bottoms |
Maximum Size |
90 cm (35 1/2 in), common to 55 cm (21 1/2 in) |
Fin Element Counts |
D. VII,25; A. II,22-24 (explain) |
Other Common Names |
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Previous Scientific Names |
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Comments |
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State size/bag limits |
None; Check for state record. |