The forkbeard averages 10 inches in length, reaching a maximum length of 25.6 inches. It has an elongated, brown body and is characterized by a barbel on the underside of its mouth and pelvic fins shaped like an inverted Y.

The forkbeard has 2 dorsal fins, the first of which is very short. It also has an anal fin.

The forkbeard is found in the Mediterranean Sea and the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, from northern Portugal to Morocco and Cape Verde, as well as around the Canary Islands, the Azores, and Madeira.

In the Mediterranean, it is notably found around Port-Cros Island.

The forkbeard inhabits rocky bottoms and areas where rocks meet sandy or muddy seabeds. During the day, it shelters in rocky crevices and is often found beneath the hulls of shipwrecks. It becomes more active at dusk.

The forkbeard is found at depths ranging from 33 to 197 feet.

The forkbeard feeds on small fish and various invertebrates, including crustaceans and marine worms. It mainly hunts at night, when it leaves its shelter.

The forkbeard's breeding season generally extends from January to May. After hatching, the larvae drift among plankton with ocean currents before gradually settling into their habitat.

The forkbeard is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The forkbeard appears in the IUCN Red List since 2015 within the category Least Concern !

Motionless just inches above the seabed in the darkness, the forkbeard is easy to observe. To find one, look in its preferred hiding places, such as shaded areas beneath rocky overhangs or under the hulls of shipwrecks resting on the sand.

It is also easy to identify by the barbel beneath its chin and its distinctive inverted Y-shaped pelvic fins.