Diagnosis_Genus: Rypticus Cuvier. Rypticus Nob. ("Les savonniers") have small thorns on opercular parts, and moreover, have scales as those of the grammists, small and hidden in a thick epidermis. The unique dorsal fin is especially what distinguishes them from the grammists. There is one in America, of a black purple (Anthias saponaceus) to which its soft skin, and coated with a foaming viscosity has earned this name of soap-maker.

Diagnosis_Species: Rypticus maculatus Holbrook. Specific characters. Dorsal fin with two spines; head and body above olive-brown, with whitish spots scattered above the median plane; lower jaw and belly pale drab-colour. D. 2-25. P. 15. V. 1-5. A. 15. C. 16. Description. This fish is of a semi-oval form, compressed, very regularly arched above, from the snout to the root of the caudal fin, and nearly straight below; it is rather thicker at the back than at the belly. The head is long, narrow, not much elevated, especially between the eyes, and the snout is rounded. The eye is very large, prominent, near the facial outline, with its inferior margin above the median plane of the head; it is about one diameter of the orbit from the snout, and two diameters and a half from the posterior border of the bony opercle; the iris is reddish-brown, with a greenish tint, and the pupil is dark. The nostrils are very small, round, and near the orbit. The mouth, though compressed, is large, and the broad posterior extremity of the superior maxillary bone extends beyond the orbit. The lower jaw is longer than the upper, and projects so far beyond it, when the mouth is shut, as to make part of the facial outline ; both are armed with numerous crowded, villiform teeth. The vomer is furnished with a large, sub-triangular group; and the palate-bones have each a large, slender patch of similar teeth, and the pharyngeal bones are armed with teeth of the same form. The tongue is rather long, narrow, smooth, and very free. The pre-opercle is rounded both behind and below, and is furnished with two stout spines near the superior part of its ascending border. The opercle is sub-quadrilateral, with three spines behind, of which the central is longest, and from them is extended a triangular fold of skin. The sub-opercle is quadrilateral, though rather rounded behind. The inter-opercle is semi-lunar. The gill-openings are large; there are seven branchial rays. The dorsal fin is single, entire, and very long, as it begins nearly on a line vertical with the anterior fourth of the pectoral, and extends almost to the root of the caudal; it has two short spines, that are so far removed from its soft portion as to represent an anterior dorsal, and it thus differs entirely from the Rypticus saponaceus of Cuvier and Valenciennes; it has twenty-five soft rays, mostly covered with skin. The pectoral is large, broad, and rounded behind; it begins at the soft appendix of the opercle, and has fifteen rays. The ventrals are very small, near together, and begin rather before the pectorals, but are only about half as long; they have each one spine and five soft rays. The anal is very short, though as much elevated as the dorsal, with which it is coterminal behind; it has fifteen rays, but no spine. The caudal is broad and rounded behind, with sixteen rays. The scales are minute, and are deeply embedded in the epidermis, and are at all times covered with a thick mucous secretion. The lateral line is arched, and elevated opposite the dorsal spines, but it gradually descends to the median plane. Colour. The head above, as well as the upper half of the body, is olive-brown, with several whitish spots above the median plane; the lower jaw and belly are pale drab colour; the pectoral fin is dusky at its root, and reddish-brown at its margin; the ventral is pale reddish-brown before, and white behind ; the roots of the dorsal and of the anal fins are olive-brown, and the external half of each is olive-colour; the caudal is olive-brown. Dimensions. The entire length, from the spine of the opercle to the tip of the caudal, is equal to three heads and a quarter; the greatest elevation, without the dorsal fin, is one head and one third; total length, eight inches. Splanchnology. The liver is very large, compressed, and appears as one mass at first sight, since the marks of separation into lobes can be seen from above only, where the left lobe sends a small lobule upwards and forwards ; the right lobe is about half as long as the left, and terminates behind in two lobules, while the left ends in a point. The gall-bladder is slender and rather long. The stomach is large and long, as it extends three fourths the length of the abdomen, and is pointed behind; its walls are very thick, and there are strong longitudinal folds on its inner surface; the pyloric portion is small, slender, short, and has thinner walls; the intestine runs to the vent, and is then reflected nearly to the diaphragm, whence it returns to end in the rectum, which is very short, and has a remarkable rectal valve; there are four small coecal appendages. The air-bladder is very large, extending the whole length of the abdomen; it is sub-conical in form, the base is anterior and rounded, and the apex behind and pointed; its walls are thin. Habits. Nothing is known of the habits of the Rypticus maculatus. Geographical Distribution. This fish has been observed only on the coast of South Carolina. General Remarks. The Rypticus maculatus is the only species of the genus, hitherto observed in our waters; and of this species I have only seen one, which was taken off Cape Remain. At first sight, it bears a striking resemblance to the Rypticus saponaceus of Cuvier and Valenciennes, yet it differs from that animal in its colour ; in the number and disposition of its dorsal spines ; and in the form of its air-bladder.

Other description (McEachran & Fechlem, 2010): Rypticus maculatus has rayed sections of dorsal and anal fins fleshy, inner pelvic rays connected to body by membrane, and pale spots on body. Anterior naris is tubular and moderately separated from posterior naris. Maxilla extends beyond posterior margin of orbit. Jaws, vomerine, and palatine teeth are villiform. Margin of preoperculum is semicircular, with two (occasionally one) spines. Dorsal margin of operculum is connected to head by membrane. Gill rakers on first arch are short and number seven to nine, excluding rudiments. Pectoral fin is rounded and has 13 to 16 rays. Dorsal fin has two (rarely three) spines and 22 to 27 (usually 24 to 26) rays. Anal fin has rounded posterior margin and 13 to 17 (usually 15 or 16) rays; spines are lacking. Caudal fin is rounded. Scales are small and embedded. Head, with exception of lips, is covered with scales. Skin is covered with thick mucus that contains toxin (grammistin). Vertebrae number 24 or 25: 10 precaudal and 14 or (rarely) 15 caudal. Color is brown, with scatered to coalesced white spots on upper half of head trunk, and cream on jaws and belly.

Body_adult_max_length: 198 mm (McEachran & Fechlem, 2010)