Slender Cockscomb

This species is distinguished by the following characters: thin and elongated body, its depth 10.2-14.1 (12.9) times in SL; small head, 6.6-8.0 (7.2) times in SL; small pectoral and caudal fins, 2.5-4.0 (3.0) and 1.9-2.7 (2.2) times HL, respectively; occipital commissure with 3 pores almost at the straight line; no pores near crest base and no medial tubule; postorbital canal usually with 6 pores (usually pore po2 is absent); preopercular canal with 4 pores; skinny crest on head with a smooth upper profile - in females, it is highest in the middle, while in males, it is highest near the posterior margin; distance between the anterior margin of medial pore of OC and origin of D is large, 0..5-9 (0.7) times in horizontal orbit diameter; scales present behind 2nd-8th ray of anal fin; D 62-63. P 7-9. V. 66-68; 13-16 spines of dorsal fin are thin and bending, at its end, there is only one shortened spine; anal fin begins under the 19th-21st ray of dorsal fin, its last ray is connected by a membrane with caudal fin 75-90 (85.4)% of its length; caudal fin with 8-11 branched rays; no branched rays on epural3; preural vertebrae with wide neural processes 11-18, and those with hemapophyseal plate 9-12; vertebrae with hemapophyseal plate, neural processes are noticeably shorter than hemal ones; top of head covered with small brown spots (Ref. 91064).

Dorsal soft rays (total): 62 - 63; Analsoft rays: 43 - 44; Vertebrae: 66 - 68

Found on rocky littoral formed of slightly flattened stones, 30-60 cm, with narrow slits that are partially filled with sand, gravel ad small stones. Stomachs contain small gastropods (Ref. 91064).