本種は同属のM. tuckeriに似るが,本種では体高が体長の39.1〜54.5%あるのに対し,後者では31.3〜38.6%しかないので区別できる(Berry and Vogele,1961)。 (松浦)
Distinctive characters:
Body deep, greatly compressed. Ventral flap enlarged. First dorsal fin with two spines above posterior part of eye; the first spine with downward directed small spines on the posterolateral edges; the second very small, embeded in skin. Upper jaw teeth arranged in two rows; the outer seires with 6 teeth, the inner with 4 teeth. Lower jaw with 6 teeth arranged in a single row. Body covered with rough scales. Posterior end of pelvis with movable encasing scales. Caudal peduncle with enlarged spines. Caudal fin rounded. Body brown with irregular dark brown blotches; ventral flap pale brown with a distal large black blotch; soft dorsal and anal fins yellow.
Distribution:
Newfoundland to Brazil.
Remarks:
This species is distinguishable from the congener, M. tuckeri, by its deeper body (39.1〜54.5% of SL against 31.3〜38.6% of SL) (Berry and Vogele, 1961). (Matsuura)