Common names: bass (English), basslet (English), cabrilla (Espanol), menta (Espanol), merito (Espanol)
 
Liopropoma fasciatum Bussing, 1980


Rainbow basslet,     Rainbow bass,     Wrasse ass bass


Body moderately elongate and compressed; head pointed, with nearly horizontal upper profile; eye moderate to large; mouth moderately large, slightly oblique, lower jaw projecting; lower rear corner of top jaw bone with prominent, bluntly pointed, ventral projection; rear edge of preopercle serrated; operculum with 3 broad flat spines at rear; dorsal fin with VIII spines, 12, strongly notched, 3rd spine longest; anal rays III,8; pectoral rays 15; tail base deep, strongly compressed;  tail slightly concave; scales small, rough;  pored lateral-line scales 46-47.


Head and belly pinkish purple, fading to reddish below; a dark brown midlateral stripe with yellow stripe above and below, also a red to brownish stripe below base of dorsal fin with narrow yellow stripe above.


Size: to 26.5 cm.

Inhabits rocky and coral reefs.

Depth: 25-250 m.

Central Gulf of California to Peru, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo and the Galapagos.