本属魚類は分類学的再検討が必要とされている。(Cohen and Nielsen, 1978)。 (荒井)
Distinctive characters:
(Family):Gill opening wide. Dosal, anal, and caudal fins continuous. Anterior nostril well above upper lip. Supramaxillary present. (Genus):Pelvic fin with two rays, inserted below preopercle. Eye normal. Developed gill rakers more than 7. No free ray on pectoral fin. A strong opercular spine present. Caudal finrays more than 8. Head about half of preanal length. Two basibranchial tooth patches. Teeth on jaws minute, granular. Eye about equal to or longer than snout length. Body usually with distinct blotches of spots. (Species):Dorsal fin gray with about 10 pale spots and a distinct blackish spot. No spine along posterior margin of preopercle. Developed gill rakers 13〜16.
Distribution:
Middle western Atlantic.
Remarks:
The genus is in need of revision (Cohen and Nielsen, 1978). (Arai)