Body elongate, well compressed* Head moderate, obtuse, com 
pressed. Muzzle short, obtuse, declivous. Eye large, high, well ad¬ 
vanced in head. Mouth terminal, small, reaches below front of eye, 
jaws about equal. Teeth minute, firm in bands in jaws. Tongue with 
front margin truncate, entire. Interorbital narrow bony ridge. Preoper- 
cle with a long, free simple spine, long as eye, directed back and 
slightly upward. Gill opening lateral, transverse, before pectoral. 
Head and front of back naked. Trunkhs^ tail and caudal base covered 
with ctenoid scales^ small on latter and large on body. Twoj-dorsals, 
first of 6 flexible spines of which one or more of median may be extended 
in slight free filaments; soft dorsal with spine and 11 rays. Anal rays 
I, 9^and last rays like last dorsal rays extended at long points to 
/audal 
fins. C - moderate, longer than head and ends in median point behind. 
Pectorals and ventrals longer than caudal, subequal, and ventrals well 
divided. 
Unique in the large conspicuous preopercular spine, in combina¬ 
tion with the scaleless head and predorsal region, long pointed fins and 
the pleasing coloration. 
