Image source: Squidpastry | inaturalist.org
Western Central Atlantic: Bermuda and Chesapeake Bay (USA) to Sao Paulo, Brazil, including the Bahamas, Barbados, and throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Max length: 15 cm Unique Characters: Silvery with dark bars and spots, some of the bars are Y-shaped. Spinous dorsal fin without a white pigmented area bordered above and below by black pigment; outer part of dorsal fin may be dusky. Scaleless premaxillary groove not crossed anteriorly by scales or constricted. No distinct, dark, V-shaped mark on snout, area between nares usually with fairly uniform pigment. Margin of preopercle smooth. Second dorsal-fin spine equal to or shorter than distance between tip of snout and posterior margin of orbit. Body oblong to moderately deep, the depth 2.4-3.3 in standard length (= 30-42% standard length, most less than 37% standard length). Scales on each side of depressed, naked area over premaxillary process extend forward of vertical line from anterior margin of orbit. Pelvic fins colorless. Anal fin with three spines in specimens over 40 mm standard length; third anal spine not ossified and unbranched in specimens under 40 mm standard length. Body pigment based on 7 dorsal bars and 6 primary lateral spots; 3 secondary spots. Body variously pigmented. 8 gill rakers on lower limb of first gill arch. Lateral-line scales 43-46, usually 45.
