Bellator brachychir

Bellator brachychir
Shortfin Searobin – Bellator brachychir
FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
TriglidaeBellator brachychir(Regan)1914Shortfin Searobin

Bellator brachychir

All Bellator – Dorsal spines usually 11 (rarely 10 or 12). Soft dorsal with 11 rays. First 1 or 2 dorsal spines often long and filamentous on males. Opercular membrane without scales. Individuals relatively small (less than 17 cm standard length).

Unique Characters: First free ray of pectoral fin considerably longer than pectoral-fin length. Cleithral spine short, not extending beyond tip of opercular spine. Chest naked. Horn-like projections barely extend beyond snout, almost blunt. Eyeball without tabs or tentacles. Nasal spines absent. Mouth large, maxillary extending beyond anterior margin of eye. Pectoral fins dusky or with an elongate black spot dorsally, posterior margin white.

Similar Species:

Horned Searobin
Bellator militaris

Streamer Searobin
Bellator egretta

Bellator militaris
Horned Searobin – Bellator militaris

Bellator egretta
Streamer Searobin – Bellator egretta

Horned Searobin Bellator militaris. Cleithral spine long, extending well beyond tip of opercular spine. Chest scaled; thin horn-like projections extending well beyond snout.

Streamer Searobin Bellator egretta. Cleithral spine short, not extending beyond tip of opercular spine. Chest naked. Horn-like projections barely extend beyond snout, almost blunt First free ray of pectoral fin shorter than pectoral-fin length. Eyeball with tabs or tentacles on dorsoposterior portion, Nasal spines present. Mouth small, maxilllary not extending to anterior margin of eye. Pectorals with alternating patches of light and dark pigment, appearing as brown patches on dorsal 1 to 2 pectoral-fin rays (often seen as bands).

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