Rosy Goatfish

This species is distinguished by the following characters: pectoral rays 15-16 (rarely 15); gill rakers 6-7 + 19-22 = 26-28; greatest body depth at or slightly anterior to origin of dorsal fin, 2.9-3.25 in SL; head length (HL) 2.8-3.1 in SL; snout length 1.65-1.9 in HL; cheek depth (lower edge of eye vertically to ventral margin of preopercle) 6.5-9.6 in SL; barbels 1.35-1.45 in HL; the longest dorsal spine 1.5-1.75 in HL; pectoral-fin length 1.25-1.4 in HL, 3.55-4.2 in SL; pelvic-fin length 1.4-1.65 in HL. Colour pale reddish to bluish gray, scale edges red, a yellow stripe from eye to base of caudal fin just above lateral line (stripe may be red in fish from deep water); barbels white to pale yellow (Ref. 54393).

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 7

Found on the continental shelf (Ref. 75154).

Apparently occurs in deeper waters in the warmer seas of lower latitudes (Ref. 54393). Inhabits silt or mud bottoms near reefs (Ref. 90102).Done