Body moderately long, well compressed. Head moderate, well 
compressed, longer than trunk. Muzzle short, broad, declivous. Eye 
elevated and advanced in head. Mouth rather large, extends well below 
eye, mandible little protruded. Lips rather broad, fleshy. Tongue 
rounded in front. Teeth in narrow band above, uniserial below, and each 
jaw with canines as 2 pairs above^nd single wide set lower pair. Inter¬ 
orbital narrow bony frenum. Gill opening moderate, extends forward 
about opposite hind preopercle edge. Gill rakers lanceolate, short, 
few. Scales extend half way in predorsal, when obsolete, head otherwise 
naked. Scales on body finely ctenoid, very small on trunk, breast and 
belly and become larger on tail, especially posteriorly. Dorsals two, 
first of 6 flexible spines, second with spine and 11 rays. Anal with 
spine and 12 rays. Caudal long as ventral, or both larger than head. 
Pectoral little shorter. 
Distinguished chiefly by its very long ventrals, naked head, and 
coloration with scattered blue gray round spots, also transverse dark 
diffuse band across chest and another across middle of belly. It appears 
allied with Valencienne^a in the presence of canines, though with much 
larger scales (about 54). 
