Cabrilla Sandperch

Aplodactylus punctatus has an elongate oblong and compressed body. The small mouth is located ventrally to the snout. The upper lips are fleshy, The teeth in the jaws are made up of three rows of tricuspid incisor like teeth with the outer row being larger than the others. There is a flattened spine on the operculum. The dorsal fin is deeply incised, it contains 16-17 spines and 18-21 soft rays, the soft-rayed part of the dorsal fin is highest at front. The anal fin contains 3 spines. 2 of which are small and partly free of the membrane with the third tightly attached to the first ray, and 6-9 soft rays. The lowest pectoral fin rays are simpled have robust tips extending beyond the membrane. There is a scaly, flesh sheath at the base of the spiny part of the dorsal fin. The maximum recorded total length for this species is 43.7 cm (17.2 in).

Aplodactylus punctatus is found in the temperate waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean along the western coast of South America where it is found from Callao in Peru south to Talcahuano in Chile. It is found in the shallow coastal waters, the juveniles in tidal pools and the adults below the low tide mark, it is normally associated with the kelp Lessonia trabeculata, at depths of to.

Aplodactylus punctatus is reputed to have very palatable flesh.