Distinguishing Characteristics |
Body slender, elongate; color pale yellow brown on back and sides, whitish below; 2 rows of dark horizontal interrupted bands on upper body; irregular vertical bars on sides; dark spot at base of caudal fin; wavy blue lines on head; dorsal fin orangish with white spots; mouth large; single group of spines at the angle of preopercle (vs. 2 groups); opercle with 3 flat spines; outer edge of opercle free. |
Similar Species |
Similar to the sand perch D. formosum which has 2 groups of spines on the preopercle margin, dwarf sand perch only has 1 group. |
Habitat |
Gulf, sand or mud bottoms near reefs |
Maximum Size |
25 cm (10 in), common to 12 cm (4 1/2 in) |
Fin Element Counts |
D. X,12; A. III,7 (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. |