Common names: hamlet (English), mutton-hamlet (English), guaseta (Espanol)
 
Alphestes immaculatus Breder, 1936


Pacific mutton-hamlet,     Pacific hamlet



Body deep, strongly compressed; large eyes; snout short; preopercle serrated, with large forward-curving spine at lower front corner; 3-5 rows of small teeth on each jaw, a pair of small canines at front of both jaws, most of teeth movable; 21-24 gill rakers; dorsal with XI spines, 18 rays, with little or no notch between spiny and soft parts; anal fin III, 9; pectoral 17; tail rounded; flank scales smooth.

Rusty brown with darker brown blotches forming irregular bars on side; also numerous dark brown and pale spots, and larger pale blotches on head and body; pectoral fins with rows of dark spots.


Size: reaches 30 cm.

Habitat: a secretive nocturnal predator found hiding in rocky crevices or amongst weed during the day.

Depth: 3-32 m.

Southern Baja and the Gulf of California to central Peru, the Revillagigedos, Galapagos, Malpelo and Cocos.

Closely related and sometimes confused with A. afer from the western Atlantic.