Prionotus stearnsi

Prionotus stearnsi
Shortwing Searobin – Prionotus stearnsi
FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
TriglidaePrionotus stearnsiJordan and Swain1885Shortwing Searobin

Prionotus stearnsi

All Prionotus – Dorsal spines 10 (rarely 9 or 11); posterior spines short and may be difficult to find. Soft dorsal fin with 12 or 13 rays. First and second dorsal spines never long and filamentous. Opercular membrane partially scaled above opercular spine.

Unique Characters: Pectoral fin short and blackish. Mouth terminal with lower jaw produced, with small ventral bony knob at symphysis of lower jaw. Pectoral fins very short (less than head length and not extending beyond origin of anal fin). Color black. Body with distinct silvery coloration. Lower preopercular spine short, reaching only to distal end of operculum or immediately anterior to it. Body cavity extends posteriad of anal-fin origin.

Similar Species:

Bandtail Searobin
Prionotus ophryas

Leopard Searobin
Prionotus scitulus

Bandtail Searobin Prionotus ophryas. Mouth subterminal, lower jaw not extending beyond upper jaw and without small ventral knob. Pectoral fins moderate to long (equal to or greater than head length and extending to or beyond origin of anal fin). Coloration variable, body coloration not silvery. Preopercular spine not short, reaching past operculum; body cavity ends at anal-fin origin. Nasal and supraocular cirri present.

Prionotus scitulus
Leopard Searobin – Prionotus scitulus

Leopard Searobin Prionotus scitulus. Mouth subterminal, lower jaw not extending beyond upper jaw and without small ventral knob. Pectoral fins moderate to long (equal to or greater than head length and extending to or beyond origin of anal fin). Coloration variable, body coloration not silvery. Preopercular spine not short, reaching past operculum; body cavity ends at anal-fin origin. Nasal and supraocular cirri absent. Spinous dorsal fin with 2 non-ocellated blotches, 1 between the first and second spines, the other between the fourth and fifth spines; branchiostegal membranes light, never dark or dusky.

Northern Searobin
Prionotus carolinus

Spiny Searobin
Prionotus alatus

Prionotus carolinus
Northern Searobin – Prionotus carolinus
Photo Credit: G.W. Link
Prionotus alatus
Spiny Searobin – Prionotus alatus

Northern Searobin Prionotus carolinus. Mouth subterminal, lower jaw not extending beyond upper jaw and without small ventral knob. Pectoral fins moderate to long (equal to or greater than head length and extending to or beyond origin of anal fin). Coloration variable, body coloration not silvery. Preopercular spine not short, reaching past operculum; body cavity ends at anal-fin origin. Nasal and supraocular cirri absent. Spinous dorsal fin without 2 non-ocellated spots; 1 spot may be ocellated or no distinct spots. Spinous dorsal fin with black spot between the fourth and fifth spine, with spot surrounded by hyaline area which extends anteriorly towards and to the first dorsal-fin spine.

Spiny Searobin Prionotus alatus. Mouth subterminal, lower jaw not extending beyond upper jaw and without small ventral knob. Pectoral fins moderate to long (equal to or greater than head length and extending to or beyond origin of anal fin). Coloration variable, body coloration not silvery. Preopercular spine not short, reaching past operculum; body cavity ends at anal-fin origin. Nasal and supraocular cirri absent. Spinous dorsal fin without 2 non-ocellated spots; 1 spot may be ocellated or no distinct spots. Spinous dorsal fin without black spot surrounded by hyaline area extending anteriorly. Pectoral fins elongated, lower joined rays much longer than upper joined rays. Pectoral fin elongate but only lower joined pectoral-fin rays elongated forming a concavity, reaching past posterior margin of anal fin and with black bands; nasal spines present, but may be small and difficult to discern (detection is best made by running finger downward toward snout on snout region).

Blackwing Searobin
Prionotus rubio

Striped Searobin
Prionotus evolans

Prionotus rubio
Blackwing Searobin – Prionotus rubio
Prionotus evolans
Striped Searobin – Prionotus evolans

Rough Searobin Prionotus rubio. Mouth subterminal, lower jaw not extending beyond upper jaw and without small ventral knob. Pectoral fins moderate to long (equal to or greater than head length and extending to or beyond origin of anal fin). Coloration variable, body coloration not silvery. Preopercular spine not short, reaching past operculum; body cavity ends at anal-fin origin. Nasal and supraocular cirri absent. Spinous dorsal fin without 2 non-ocellated spots; 1 spot may be ocellated or no distinct spots. Spinous dorsal fin without black spot surrounded by hyaline area extending anteriorly. Pectoral fins elongated, lower joined rays much longer than upper joined rays. Pectoral fin elongate but obliquely truncate, not concave with only lowermost joined rays longer, rays reach past posterior margin of anal fin, pectoral fins uniformly black with distinct blue margin on ventral edge, nasal spines absent.

Striped Searobin Prionotus evolans. Mouth subterminal, lower jaw not extending beyond upper jaw and without small ventral knob. Pectoral fins moderate to long (equal to or greater than head length and extending to or beyond origin of anal fin). Coloration variable, body coloration not silvery. Preopercular spine not short, reaching past operculum; body cavity ends at anal-fin origin. Nasal and supraocular cirri absent. Spinous dorsal fin without 2 non-ocellated spots; 1 spot may be ocellated or no distinct spots. Spinous dorsal fin without black spot surrounded by hyaline area extending anteriorly. Pectoral fins rounded, lower joined rays not longer than upper joined rays. Dark bands or lines extending entirely across pectoral fin, 2 lateral stripes or spots (may be partial) from head to caudal fin. Total gill rakers on first gill arch usually 17-24. Dark narrow wavy vertical lines, placed close together on pectoral fin.

Bighead Searobin
Prionotus tribulus

Bluespotted Searobin
Prionotus roseus

Prionotus tribulus
Bighead Searobin – Prionotus tribulus

Bighead Searobin Prionotus tribulus. Mouth subterminal, lower jaw not extending beyond upper jaw and without small ventral knob. Pectoral fins moderate to long (equal to or greater than head length and extending to or beyond origin of anal fin). Coloration variable, body coloration not silvery. Preopercular spine not short, reaching past operculum; body cavity ends at anal-fin origin. Nasal and supraocular cirri absent. Spinous dorsal fin without 2 non-ocellated spots; 1 spot may be ocellated or no distinct spots. Spinous dorsal fin without black spot surrounded by hyaline area extending anteriorly. Pectoral fins rounded, lower joined rays not longer than upper joined rays. Dark bands or lines extending entirely across pectoral fin, 2 lateral stripes or spots (may be partial) from head to caudal fin. Total gill rakers on first arch usually 8-16. Dark broad vertical bands on pectoral fin.

Bluespotted Searobin Prionotus roseus. Mouth subterminal, lower jaw not extending beyond upper jaw and without small ventral knob. Pectoral fins moderate to long (equal to or greater than head length and extending to or beyond origin of anal fin). Coloration variable, body coloration not silvery. Preopercular spine not short, reaching past operculum. Body cavity ends at anal-fin origin. Nasal and supraocular cirri absent. Spinous dorsal fin without 2 non-ocellated spots; 1 spot may be ocellated or no distinct spots. Spinous dorsal fin without black spot surrounded by hyaline area extending anteriorly. Pectoral fins rounded, lower joined rays not longer than upper joined rays. Dark bands or lines extending entirely across pectoral fin, 2 lateral stripes or spots (may be partial) from head to caudal fin. Dark bands or lines not extending entirely across pectoral fin. No lateral stripes on body.

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