4 from Argentina (339-417 mm SL), FSFL EM 415, 418, 420, 635.
Description:
D ],T, 27-30; A U, 7-9; P1 18-19; P2 T, 5; LLS 50-54; GR 7-9+14-16=22-29.
HL 31.1-33.1% of SL; ED 4.1-4.4; BD 28.6-30.2; SN 11.0-11.6; IO 8.1-9.0; UJ 10.9-11.4; CP 7.8-9.0; P1L 22.6-25.2; P2L 18.0-20.1; PreD 38.5-39.6.
Body Slightly elongate, moderately compressed. Dorsal fin with a deep notch; a short spine anterior to second dorsal fin. Caudal margin slightly convex. Preopercular margin serrated, with 3 to 5 spines at angle. Mouth inferior, nearly horizontal; teeth villiform, forming bands in both jaws, outer row in upper jaw slightly enlarged. Chin with 3 to 5 pairs of small barbels along inner edge of lower jaw; snout with 7 to 8 pores. Gill-rakers short and tough. Scales ctenoid on body and top of head; cycloid on snout, cheek and opercle; 6 or 7 scales between dorsal fin origin and lateral line in vertical series; lateral line extending posterior margin of caudal fin. Body silvery with a golden cast, back greyish, with distinct oblique dark streaks along scale rows extending to much below lateral line; spinal portion of dorsal fin without small dark dots.
Distribution:
Most of the Antilles and along the southern Caribbean coast and the Atlantic coast of South America from Costa Rica to Argentina. Found usually over muddy and sandy bottom in the coastal waters to about 60 m depths (Chao, 1977).
Remarks:
Attains 60 cm SL, common to 45 cm SL. This species is very similar to M. undulatus (junior synonym: M. opercularis) in the western Atlantic, but differs by characters of the number of vertical scales between dorsal fin origin and lateral line, and the color pattern of fins and body (Chao, 1978).
(Tadashi INADA)
Distribution of Micropogon furnieri in Patagonia.
Ventral view of head. Snout (1), mental pore (2) and barbel on chin (3).