Author: Poll, 1950
Prognathodes marcellae Poll, 1950
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Prognathodes marcellae (Poll, 1950) (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: body high with strong and high (especially 3-6) dorsal spines. DXIII + 18-22; AIII + 15-18; VI + 5; PII + 12-15; Cn + 15+n. Lateral line 29-36 pored scales. On the body scales are moderate in size disposed in subhorizontal rows. Colour: ground colour silvery-white. Black ocular band from the second dorsal spine and nape downward through the eye and below this, obliquely to the mouth corner. A second black bar from the last dorsal spine vertically downward to the last spine of anal fin. Bases of both dorsal and anal fins including anterior part ofcaudal peduncle bright-yellow. From the interorbital space to tip of snout a black stripe. Dorsal and anal spines and whole ventral fins lemon-yellow. Across the base of pectorals a golden-yellow stripe. Ventral fins excepting the spine yellow. Pectorals and caudal hyaline. Size: to 12 cm.
Habitat: inshore waters, close to bottom, from 30 to 180 m, generally between 90-150 m. Food: bottom invertebrates. Reproduction: no data
Distribution: West-Africa from Namibia to Senegal but isolated specimens were caught (by otter trawl) from Mauretania and Morocco.