Photo Credit: Dan Marotta – Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
| Family | Scientific Name | Author | Year | Common Name |
| Serranidae | Serraniculus pumilio | Ginsburg | 1952 | Pygmy Sea Bass |
Serraniculus pumilio
Unique Characters: Dorsal fin with 10 spines and 10 or 11 soft rays. Anal fin with 3 spines and 6-13 rays. Most of upper edge of operculum free, not connected by skin to body. Caudal fin rounded. Head larger, its length contained 2.3-3.3 times in standard length. Preopercle with 1-3 strong antrorse spines on lower edge; middle opercle spine not reaching edge of operculum. Front nostrils variously shaped, but always closer to rear nostrils than to upper lip. Supramaxilla absent. Teeth fixed (not depressible). No scaly flap of skin joining upper part of pectoral-fin base to body. Soft dorsal and anal fins mostly naked (hence the rays are easy to count). Preopercle not expanded posteriorly, the serrae at the angle only slightly enlarged. Upper jaw moderately protrusile; jaw teeth distinct; vomer and palatines with teeth. Body depth 27-48% standard length. Posterior process of premaxilla broad and near tip of alveolar ramus. Branchiostegal rays 6. Lateral-line scales 40-46. Head and body mottled dark brown; pale blue spots on soft dorsal and caudal fins. Total gill rakers on first arch 9-13. Maximum size 6 cm standard length.
Similar Species: None.
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