Blue Spot Coral Cod

This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: D XI,16 (rarely XI,17); A III,8; pectoral-fin rays 18; lateral-line scales 48-52 (modally 48 and 50); longitudinal scale series 114-132 (120 and 128); total gill rakers 21-24 (22); body deep, its depth 30.7-42.7 (mean 35.3) % SL; the 1st to 3rd dorsal-fn spine lengths gradually increasing, 3rd or 4th (rarely 5th) spine longest; anal-fin posterior margin is rounded; caudal fin truncate, the posterior margin with narrow white line; head, body, and all fins have small polygonal brown spots (smaller than pupil, expanded on head and body undersurface) on pale background, forming a reticulate pattern; pectoral fin is brown, with its margin yellow when fresh (brownish in preserved specimens) (Ref. 123820)..

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16 - 17; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8