Author: (Cuvier, 1829)
Pseudupeneus prayensis (Cuvier, 1829)
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Pseudupeneus prayensis (Cuvier, 1829) (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: body moderately compressed; profile of head not strongly convex; posterior margin of opercle with 1 spine; a pair of stout barbels under the chin; strong, conical teeth in both jaws, some of the outer teeth in upper jaw pointed backwards and clearly visible when mouth is closed; no teeth on vomer and palatines. First dorsal fin with 8 spines, the first one very short; second dorsal fin with 1 spine and 8 soft rays. Scales large, 28-29 in lateral line. Colour: rosy, with 3 or 4 red lines along the body. Size: to 55 cm SL, usually 30-35 cm.
Habitat: benthic on mud and sandy bottoms at depths between 10 and 300 m, usually between 30 and 50 m. Coastal waters of the continental shelf. Food: bottom-living invertebrates. Reproduction: no data.
Distribution: in the area, southern coasts of Morocco (Agadir), also along the west coasts of Africa to Angola; frequent along Mauritanian coasts. Also recently found in Western Mediterranean (south-eastern coast of Spain) (Reina and Nunnez, 1984).
Eggs, larvae and young stages. No data.
Otoliths (sagitta). Chaine, 1938: 15, pl. 1.