Butterfish

Marine fish with regularly ossified skeleton. High, fusiform, strongly compressed body, with dorsal and ventral profile convex and similar. Tiny scales. The lateral line runs parallel to the dorsal profile of the body. Small head. Snout short and blunt. Small mouth. Tiny teeth. Eyes also small. A single dorsal fin with long base, the first rays are larger than the following. Caudal fin forked. Anal fin with base slightly shorter than dorsal fin and similar shape. Pectorals inserted in the lower half of the flanks. Ventral fins absent. Color: Iridescent blue intense on dorsum, lighter on the flanks, silvery white ventral zone. Numerous round dark blue spots on upper half of body. Dorsal and caudal fins with dark border, anal fin white. Maximum length: 38 cm.