|
|
| The labrisomids, or scaled
blennies, are generally small and nondescript fishes, yet they can be quite common on and
around Caribbean reefs. They comprise one of the largest families of reef fishes
in the region, with over 40 species. Labrisomid genera tend to be quite speciose
and species-level identifications are generally difficult. Fortunately almost
all of the species belong to only four large genera, making identifications to
genus rather simple. Two of the genera, Starksia
spp. and Paraclinus spp.,
contain numerous similar-appearing species that are typically tiny and cryptic.
The more conspicuous genera in this family are Malacoctenus
spp. with eight Caribbean species and Labrisomus
spp. with nine. The remaining regional labrisomids are two obscure deep-water
genera that are monotypic: Nemaclinus atelestos
and Haptoclinus apectolophus. |
| | | Labrisomid
larvae can be recognized by their their pointed snout, long and continuous dorsal
and anal fins with flexible spines, a very short and narrow caudal peduncle, long
strand-like pelvic fins (usually straight, not curled up over the body), the absence
of spines on the head, and light markings (basically a row of melanophores along
the anal fin base and often a few on top of the head). Larval labrisomids have
large round eyes, in contrast to the early life history stages of many labrids,
scarids, and gobies,
in which the eye can be smaller or narrowed. | |
| | Some
of the closely-related chaenopsids
are quite similar in general appearance to larval labrisomids, but chaenopsids
usually have more than 13 dorsal fin soft rays and 34 or more total dorsal fin
elements, while regional labrisomids always have 13 or fewer dorsal fin soft rays
and fewer than 34 total dorsal fin elements. The Caribbean chaenopsids that share
the low dorsal fin soft ray count with labrisomids are Coralliozetus
cardonae, Emblemaria
vitta, Acanthemblemaria
johnsoni (Tobago only?), A.
rivasi (from the SW Caribbean) and the Emblemariopsis
spp. The genus Stathmonotus
is still considered chaenopsid even though their dorsal fin is made up of all
spines. | |
| |
| Labrisomids can be separated easily
from blenniids, since the
blenniids have fewer dorsal fin spines than soft rays and blunt snouts at all
stages. Tripterygiids
have three separated dorsal fins and dactyloscopids
have curled pelvic fins. Many larval gobies fit the general labrisomid gestalt,
but have separate and very short spinous dorsal fins with spindly spines, and
often a pelvic fin disk as well. | | |
| | |
| |
| Malacoctenus spp.
vs. Labrisomus spp. | | |
| There are two conspicuous
labrisomid genera on Caribbean reefs: the Malacoctenus spp. and the Labrisomus
spp. Both genera contain species that are typically seen out in the open
and can be very common. Malacoctenus spp. are relatively small, usually
an inch or two, while Labrisomus
spp. are larger and bulkier (some can even reach six inches). These two groups can be distinguished from their
tiny and cryptic relatives, the Starksia
spp. and the Paraclinus
spp. by fin ray counts: the former has fewer second dorsal fin rays and
pectoral fin rays (with a few exceptions) and the latter have all (or all but
one) dorsal fin elements spinous. | |
| The two genera
have overlapping fin ray counts and are hard to separate on that basis alone.
One major difference is the shape of the snout, pointed in Malacoctenus
spp., blunted in Labrisomus spp. (except
for very pointed in L. nigricinctus), but
it is unclear whether this feature is consistent enough in early life history
stages. Another basic difference is that the rear edge of the maxilla is sheathed
in Malacoctenus spp. and exposed in Labrisomus
spp. and the mouth is small and extends back only to the level of the anterior
orbit in Malacoctenus spp. (and L.
nigricinctus) and large and extending back past the level of the pupil
in Labrisomus spp. Similarly, however, this
character is unlikely to be useful in earlier stages. Lastly, in Malacoctenus
spp. (and L. nigricinctus) the shortest
dorsal fin spine is often many times shorter than the longest dorsal fin ray,
while in Labrisomus spp. the shortest dorsal
fin spine is typically about half the length of the longest dorsal fin ray. The
usefulness of these distinctions for larvae awaits further series of specimens. |
|
| Fin ray counts can
be very useful in this group, especially since the ranges of counts is documented.
They are listed here in order of increasing fin ray counts (the range with the
known combinations follow in parentheses). | |
| mostly from
Springer's monograph "Systematics and Zoogeography of the Clinid Fishes of the
Subtribe Labrisomini Hubbs" | |
| | Malacoctenus
spp. | | |
| M.
versicolor: mode D-XVIII,12 __A-II,18-19 Pect 14 (rarely 11 dorsal fin
soft rays; pect 13-14) | |
| M.
delalandei : mode D-XX,10 __A-II,19 Pect 14 (dorsal 19/9-11 and 20/9-11
and 21/9; anal 17-20; pect 13-15) | |
| M.
gilli: mode D-XX,10 __A-II,19 Pect 14 (dorsal 18/10 and 19/10-11 and 20/9-11
and 21/9-10; anal 17-21; pect 13-16) | |
| M.
aurolineatus: mode D-XIX-XX,11 __A-II,19-20 Pect 14 (dorsal 18/10-11 and
19/10-12 and 20/10-12 and 21/10-11; anal 17-21; pect 13-15) | |
| M.
triangulatus: mode D-XX,12 __A-II,21 Pect 14 (dorsal 19/12-13 and 20/11-13
and 21/11; anal 20-22; pect 13-15) | |
| M.
boehlkei: D-XX,13 or XXI, 11-12 or XXII,11 __A-II,22 (range 20-23) Pect
15 | |
| M.
erdmani: D-XXI,9 __A-II,18-19 Pect 16 (dorsal 20/9-10 and 21/8-10 and
22/8-9; anal 17-20; pect 15-17) | |
| | M.
macropus: D-XXI,9-11 or XXII,8-10 or XXIII,9-10 __A-II,20-21 (range 18-22)
Pect 15 (range 14-16) | |
| Labrisomus
spp. | | |
| eighteen
dorsal fin spine group | | |
| L.
albigenys: mode D-XVIII,11 A-II,18 Pect 13 |
|
| L.
nigricinctus: mode D-XVIII,11 A-II,18 Pect 13 (dorsal 17/11 and 18/10-12
and 19/11; anal 17-20) | |
| | L.
nuchipinnis: mode D-XVIII,12 A-II,18-19 Pect 14 (dorsal 17/12-13 and 18/10-13
and 19/11-12 and 20/12; anal 17-19; pect 13-15) | |
| (note: the chaenopsid
Emblemaria vitta overlaps the fin ray count
of L. nuchipinnis) | |
| nineteen
dorsal fin spine group | |
| L.
gobio: mode D-XIX,11 A-II,19 Pect 13 (dorsal 18/12 and 19/10-12; anal 18-20;
pect 12-13) | |
| L.
guppyi: mode D-XIX,11 A-II,19 Pect 13 (dorsal 18/11-12 and 19/10-12; anal
18-20; pect 12-14) | |
| | L.
kalisherae: mode D-XIX,11 A-II,19 Pect 13 (dorsal 18/11-12 and 19/10-12
and 20/10-11; anal 18-20; pect 13-14) | |
| twenty
plus dorsal fin spine group | |
| L.
bucciferus: mode D-XX,11 A-II,20 Pect 13 (dorsal 19/11-12 and 20/10-12
and 21/10; anal 19-21; pect 12-14) | |
| L.
haitiensis: mode D-XX-XXI,10-11 A-II,20-21 Pect 14 (dorsal 20/10-12 and
21/10-11 and 22/10-11; anal 18-22; pect 13-15) | |
| L.
filamentosus: mode D-XXI,12 A-II,21 | |
| note: the chaenopsids
Emblemariopsis spp. overlap the fin ray counts
of many of the labrisomids listed above and Coralliozetus
cardonae overlaps some (D-XVIII,12 A-II-20 (dorsal 17-19/10-13; anal 18-24;
pect 11-13) | | | |
|
| |
|
|
| | Diagnosis:
Pointed snout profile at transition and modal fin ray counts of D-XXI,10
A-II,20 and Pect-15 indicate Malacoctenus macropus.
The modal dorsal fin ray count is near the center of the range reported for M.
macropus and M. erdmani.
In addition, about 20% of individuals have 22 dorsal fin spines and fewer than
10 dorsal soft fin rays, which occurs only in M.
macropus (and to a lesser extent in M.
erdmani). Unfortunately fin ray counts overlap for M.
macropus and M. erdmani,
but the ranges do serve to separate the species. Many M.
macropus have 21 anal fin soft rays, while M.
erdmani has a maximum of 20 (mode of 18-19). Many M.
macropus have 14 pectoral fin rays, while M.
erdmani has a minimum of 15. The relative length of dorsal fin spines
is an additional character separating these two species: the first dorsal fin
spine is usually longer than the tenth and always longer than the last in M.
macropus (vs. usually shorter than the tenth and the last in M.
erdmani). However, since the range of fin ray counts for M.
erdmani and M. macropus do overlap
and it is not certain whether relative spine lengths are consistent for larvae,
some individuals may require DNA sequence analysis to identify the species. Transitional
recruit with bicolor pattern of dark above, light below indicates M.
macropus. (ML) | |
| Analogues:
| |
| Description:
Body long, somewhat narrow and thin with a large eye, pointed snout, and
terminal large mouth. Pectoral and pelvic fins long, reaching to or past the vent.
Dorsal head melanophores consist of a pair (one per side) over the braincase,
or often just one off-center. There is often one melanophore on the operculum
at the level of the mid-eye. Along the ventral midline there are melanophores
at the isthmus and the pelvic fin insertion (usually larger), then a large deep
melanophore just behind the pelvic fin base. There are a row of melanophores along
the base of the anal fin, one for each anal soft fin ray (not the two spines),
continuing with a few smaller melanophores along the caudal peduncle ending at
the start of the accessory caudal fin rays. Internal melanophores are present
around the sacculus and the rear braincase, as well as a deep melanophore just
behind the braincase. Then there are several melanophores spaced along the dorsal
peritoneal cavity and sometimes a melanophore around the gut near the vent. Transitional
larvae develop solid patches of tiny melanophores on the top of the head and in
bars radiating from the eye (and on the iris); most prominently at about 8 o'clock
on the eye and across the upper jaw, and then in patches below the eye, on the
cheek, and at the base of the pectoral fin. Melanophores develop on the dorsal
fin in patches at intervals along the forward half of the fin. | |
|
|
| Malacoctenus macropus
larva | | 10.0 mm SL | | internal
melanophore pattern | | San Blas, Panama, SB86-409 |
|  |
| Malacoctenus macropus
transitional larva | | 11.3 mm SL |
single head melanophore slightly off center D-XXI,10
A-II,20 Pect-14 | | San Blas, Panama, SB86-604 |
|  | | |  |
Malacoctenus macropus
transitional recruit | | 11.4 mm SL |
| San Blas, Panama, SB83-103 | |  | | |  |
| | |
| |
| |
| | Diagnosis:
Pointed snout profile at transition and modal fin ray counts of D-XXI,9
A-II,18-19 and Pect-16 indicate Malacoctenus erdmani.
This combination of fin ray counts is at the edge of the range reported for M.
macropus (and extreme for M. gilli),
but many individuals have only twenty dorsal fin spines (below Springer's reported
range for M. macropus) and/or
the combination of 18 anal fin rays and 16 pectoral fin rays (characteristic of
M. erdmani, and rare for M.
macropus; reported by Springer) and/or twenty-one dorsal fin spines with
only 8 dorsal fin rays (only in M. erdmani).
The relative length of dorsal fin spines is an additional character separating
these two species: the first dorsal fin spine is usually shorter than the tenth
and the last in M. erdmani (vs. usually longer
than the tenth and always longer than the last in M.
macropus). However, since the range of fin ray counts for M. erdmani
and M. macropus do overlap
and it is not certain whether relative spine lengths are consistent for larvae,
this larval type could sometimes include individuals of M.
macropus. | |
| Analogues:
| |
Description:
Body long, somewhat narrow and thin with a large eye, pointed snout, and
terminal large mouth. Pectoral and pelvic fins long, reaching to or past the vent.
Dorsal head melanophores consist of a pair (one per side) over the braincase,
or often just one off-center. There is often one melanophore on the operculum
at the level of the mid-eye. Along the ventral midline there are melanophores
at the anterior thorax and the pelvic fin insertion (usually larger), then a large
deep melanophore just behind the pelvic fin base. There are a row of melanophores
along the base of the anal fin, one for each anal soft fin ray (not the two spines),
continuing with a few smaller melanophores along the caudal peduncle ending at
the start of the accessory caudal fin rays. Internal melanophores are present
around the sacculus and the rear braincase, as well as a deep melanophore just
behind the braincase. Then there are several melanophores spaced along the dorsal
peritoneal cavity and sometimes a melanophore around the gut near the vent.
|
| | Malacoctenus
erdmani larva, 10.0 mm SL (San Blas, Panama, SB86-409) | |
| | Malacoctenus
erdmani larva, 10.0 mm SL (relatively long tenth and last dorsal fin spine)(D-XXI,8
A-II,18 Pect-)(San Blas, Panama, SB87-223) | | |
| |
|
| Malacoctenus triangulatus | |
| | | | |
| | Diagnosis:
Pointed snout profile at transition and modal fin ray counts of D-XIX-XX,
11-12 A-II, 20-21 and Pect-14-15 indicate Malacoctenus
spp. Individuals with twenty dorsal fin spines and twelve dorsal soft fin
rays occur only in M. triangulatus and M.
aurolineatus. A mode including 21 anal soft fin rays indicates M.
triangulatus. Transitional recruit with dorsal fin spot at the base of
the first three spines extending onto the body and inverted triangular markings
along dorsal body indicates M. triangulatus.
(ML) | |
| Analogues:
| |
| Description:
Body long, somewhat narrow and thin with a large eye, pointed snout, and
terminal large mouth. Pectoral and pelvic fins long, reaching to or past the vent.
Dorsal head melanophores consist of a pair (one per side) over the braincase,
or often just one off-center. There is often one melanophore on the operculum
at the level of the mid-eye. Along the ventral midline there are melanophores
at the anterior thorax and the pelvic fin insertion (usually larger), then a large
deep melanophore just behind the pelvic fin base. There are a row of melanophores
along the base of the anal fin, one for each anal soft fin ray (not the two spines),
continuing with a few smaller melanophores along the caudal peduncle ending at
the start of the accessory caudal fin rays. Internal melanophores are present
around the sacculus and the rear braincase, as well as a deep melanophore just
behind the braincase. Then there are several melanophores spaced along the dorsal
peritoneal cavity and sometimes a melanophore around the gut near the vent. |
| |
|
Malacoctenus triangulatus
transitional recruit | | 15.4 mm SL |
| San Blas, Panama, SB81-074 | |  |
Malacoctenus triangulatus
transitional recruit | | 15.5 mm SL |
| San Blas, Panama, SB83-141 | |  |
| | |
| |
|
| Malacoctenus aurolineatus ? | |
| | | | | |
|
| | Diagnosis:
Pointed snout profile at transition and a fin ray count of D-XX,11 A-II,20
and Pect-14 indicate Malacoctenus spp. M. aurolineatus
has this modal fin ray count, but the fin ray counts also fall within the range
for M. gilli, M delalandei, and M.
triangulatus, which cannot be excluded. L.
haitiensis described below also cannot be excluded from the type (especially
if the pointed snout is present in Labrisomus spp.
larvae before transition). C9 (ML) | |
| Analogues:
| |
| Description:
Body long, somewhat narrow and thin with a large eye, pointed snout, and
terminal large mouth. Pectoral and pelvic fins long, almost reaching to vent.
Dorsal head melanophores consist of one large central melanophore over the rear
brain case and a smaller one midline above the eye. There are a few more tiny
melanophores around the orbit rim, interorobital, and nasal bone and a few on
the operculum. At the ventral midline there are two melanophores along the isthmus,
the smaller one forward, and a large subsurface melanophore behind the pelvic
fin base. There are a row of melanophores along the base of the anal fin, one
for each anal soft fin ray, continuing with a few smaller melanophores along the
caudal peduncle ending at the start of the accessory caudal fin rays. There are
a few melanophores along the base of some of the dorsal soft fin rays as well
as a thin bar of melanophores outlining the base of the caudal fin segmented rays
and a scattering of tiny melanophores along the lower caudal fin segmented rays.
A row of deep internal melanophores are present above the spinal column at the
posterior end of the body. | | |
|
| Malacoctenus aurolineatus
? larva | | 12.3 mm SL | | San
Blas, Panama, SB86-429 | |  | | |  | | |  | | |  | | |  |
| | |
| |
|
| Diagnosis:
Modal fin counts of D-XX,11 A-II,20 and Pect-14 with a slightly blunted
profile at transition indicates Labrisomus spp. L.
haitiensis is the only species of the genus with a mode of XX dorsal fin
spines and 14 pectoral fin rays. The fin ray count cannot exclude L.
bucciferus, and may be within the extreme range for L.
kalisherae (however the latter's range does not include 21 anal soft fin
rays, present in this type). Malacoctenus
aurolineatus shares the modal fin ray count, and M.
gilli, M. delalandei, and M.
triangulatus fall within the possible fin ray count range, but the head
shape likely excludes these species. (PE) C9a
| |
| Analogues:
| |
| Description:
Body long, somewhat narrow and thin with a large eye, slightly blunted
profile at transition, and terminal large mouth. Pectoral and pelvic fins long,
almost reaching to vent. Melanophores in a row along the base of the anal fin,
one for each anal soft fin ray, continuing with six to eight more smaller melanophores
along the caudal peduncle ending at the start of the accessory caudal fin rays.
There are often a few melanophores along the base of some of the dorsal soft fin
rays as well as a thin bar of melanophores outlining the base of the caudal fin
segmented rays. Dorsal head melanophores consist of one large central melanophore
over the rear brain case and often a pair of smaller ones above the eye. Transitional
larvae develop solid patches of tiny melanophores on the top of the head, a bar
below the eye at about 7 o'clock (and on the iris), and a row of saddle bars below
the anterior spinous dorsal fin (no patch on the first dorsal fin spines). |
| |
|
| Labrisomus haitiensis
? transitional larva | | 12.7 mm SL |
| San Blas, Panama, SB86-408 | |  | | |  | | |  | | |  |
| | |
| |
| Notes on Starksia
spp. | | |
| There are 19 Caribbean species
in this genus, many with overlapping fin ray counts (two more in Brazilian waters),
and eight may be expected in Panama. Some named species are subdivisions of once
wide-ranging geographically-variable species, but many species with presumably
very restricted ranges have been recently described (Williams and Mounts 2003).
| |
| The Starksia
spp. are distinguished from other labrisomid genera by having only 7 to 9
dorsal fin soft rays and usually only 13 pectoral fin rays. Other labrisomids
that can share 8 or 9 soft dorsal fin rays include a few Malacoctenus
spp., although they have higher modal fin ray counts, i.e. M.
delalandei (mode of 10 soft dorsal fin rays), M.
gilli (mode of 10 soft dorsal fin rays), M.
erdmani (pectoral fin rays 16), and M.
macropus (pectoral fin rays 15) and appropriate larval types are identified.
| |
| The widespread
S. ocellata complex comprises S.
occidentalis in the Western Caribbean (20-21,7-8,17-18,14), along with
S. ocellata (Florida), S.
culebrae (Antilles), S. guttata (SE
Caribbean 20-22,8-9,17-18,14), S. variabilis
(Colombia), and S. brasiliensis in Brazil.
| |
| The S.
sluiteri complex comprises the widespread S.
sluiteri (18-19,7-9,15-17,13) with localized relatives S.
leucovitta (Navassa 18-19,8-9,15-16-17,13), S.
melasma (PR St.Croix 18-19-20,7-9,15-16,13), S.
multilepis (Noronha 20,8,16-17,13), S. rava
(Tobago 19-20-21,7-8-9,16-17-18,13),
S. sella (Tobago 18-19,7-9,16-17,13). | |
| There are also
the widespread species S. atlantica (18-19-20,7-8,15-16,14),
S. nanodes (19-20-21,7-8,16-17,13),
S. lepicoelia (19-20-21,7-8-9,16-17,13),
S. starcki (20-21,8-9,18-19,13),
S. elongata (20-21,7-8-9,17-18,13)
and perhaps S. y-lineata (Cayman and Nicaragua
19,7-8,15,13). | |
| S.
fasciata is found only in Cuba and the Bahamas (19-20,7-8,15-16,13), and
its relative S. smithvanizi only in the Antilles
(19-20,7-8,15-16,13), and S. hassi only in
the Bahamas/Antilles (deep 19-20,8-9,17,13). | |
| |
|
|
| | Diagnosis:
Modal fin counts of D-XXI,7-9 A-II,18 Pect-14 indicate Starksia
spp. Only S. occidentalis and S.
atlantica have a mode of 14 pectoral fin rays and the latter is excluded
by having only 15-16 anal fin soft rays. (U) | |
| Analogues:
| |
| Description:
Body long, somewhat narrow and thin with a large eye and a terminal large
mouth. Pectoral and pelvic fins medium length. Ventral melanophores only along
the midline, at the thorax and at the pelvic fin insertion, and then in a row
along the base of the anal fin, one for each anal fin spine and soft fin ray.
The melanophore after the last anal fin ray is larger and often extends deeply.
There are no additional melanophores along the ventral midline of the caudal peduncle.
Transitional larvae develop solid bars of melanophores radiating from the eye
(and onto the iris), most prominently at about 8 o'clock across the mid-jaw and
in bands across the top of the head. A small patch of melanophores develops on
the base of the first dorsal fin spine. | | |
|
| Starksia occidentalis
transitional larva | | 10.0 mm SL |
| San Blas, Panama, SB86-608 | |  | | |  |
| | |
| |
|
| | Diagnosis:
Modal fin counts of D-XX,7 A-II,16 Pect-13 indicate
Starksia spp. Many species have a mode of 13 pectoral fin rays, but among
them only S. nanodes has a strong mode of 7 dorsal fin soft rays. (U) |
| | Analogues:
| |
| Description:
| | |
|
| Starksia nanodes
transitional recruit | | 10.0 mm SL |
| Barbados, Henri Valle 2005R21 | | |
| | |
| |
|
| | Diagnosis:
Modal fin counts of D-XIX,8 A-II,16 Pect-13 indicate
Starksia spp. There are numerous species in the genus that overlap in fin
ray counts. This larval type has a large eye and metamorphoses at a particularly
small size, less than 8 mm SL. | |
| Analogues:
| |
| Description:
| | |
|
| Starksia sp. A
transitional larva | | 7.8 mm SL |
| San Blas, Panama, SB86-1008 | |  | | |  | | |  |
| |  |
| | |
| |
|
| | Diagnosis:
Modal fin counts of D-XXIX A-II,19 and a mode of 13 pectoral fin rays indicates
Paraclinus fasciatus (28-31, II,17-20). Two
other Caribbean species have all dorsal fin elements spinous (and just two pelvic
fin segmented rays): P. cingulatus with 12
pectoral fin rays (27, II,15, no ocelli) and P. naeorhegmis
(26, II,15-16, Bahamas only). The remaining species of the genus have a single
segmented ray as the last dorsal fin element and a small third pelvic fin segmented
ray (vs. only two): P. barbatus, P. grandicornis,
P. infrons, P. marmoratus, and P. nigripinnis. (U) C1 | |
| Analogues:
| |
| Description:
Body long, somewhat narrow and thin with a large eye and a terminal large
mouth. There is a clear notch in the membrane between the first three dorsal fin
spines and the rest of the fin. Pectoral and pelvic fins medium length. Internal
melanophores along the dorsal surface of the peritoneum and around the gut near
the vent. No dorsal surface melanophores, but a large deep melanophore at the
rear of the the braincase (often obscure in well-developed larvae). Some individuals
have one or two small melanophores on the opercle at the level of the mid-eye.
Ventral melanophores only along the midline: one at the isthmus, one deep and
behind the pelvic fin base (often obscure in well-developed larvae), and then
in a row along the base of the anal fin, usually one for each anal soft fin ray.
This row can be variable, sometimes there is also a melanophore at the base of
the second anal fin spine and often the last one or two rays have no melanophore.
There are usually between one and three more melanophores along the ventral midline
of the caudal peduncle before the start of the accessory caudal fin rays. Transitional
larvae develop a | | |
|
| Paraclinus fasciatus
larva | | 8.8 mm SL | | San
Blas, Panama, SB86-501 | |  | | |  | | |  |
| | |
| |
|
| | Diagnosis:
Modal fin counts of D-XXX,1 A-II,18 and a mode of 13 pectoral fin rays
indicates Paraclinus nigripinnis (29-31+1,
II,17-19, divided/short opercular spine, one ocellus). A group of species share
the single segmented ray as the last dorsal fin element and a small third pelvic
fin soft ray (vs. only two): P. barbatus (28-29+1,
II,19-20, rare deep-water), P. grandicornis
(large orbital cirrhus, 12 pectoral fin rays, no ocellus),
P. infrons (26-28+1, II,17-18, no nuchal cirrhi,
12 pectoral fin rays, two dorsal fin spots), and P.
marmoratus (28-29+1, II,19-20, three ocelli). The two remaining Caribbean
species have all dorsal fin elements spinous and two soft rays in the pelvic fin
(P. cingulatus and P.
naeorhegmis). (U) C1 | |
| Analogues:
| |
| Description:
Body long, somewhat narrow and thin with a large eye and a terminal large
mouth. Pectoral and pelvic fins medium length. Internal melanophores along the
dorsal surface of the peritoneum and around the gut near the vent. No dorsal surface
melanophores, but a large deep melanophore at the rear of the the braincase (often
obscure in well-developed larvae). Some individuals have one or two small melanophores
on the opercle at the level of the mid-eye. Ventral melanophores only along the
midline: one at the thorax just forward of the pelvic fin insertion, one deep
and behind the pelvic fin base (often obscure in well-developed larvae), and then
in a row along the base of the anal fin, usually one for each anal soft fin ray
(occasionally one for each anal fin spine as well). There is usually a single
additional melanophore just behind the last anal fin ray (and not on the ridge
of soft tissue before the accessory caudal fin rays). | |
|
|
| Paraclinus nigripinnis
larva | | 7.9 mm SL | | San
Blas, Panama, SB86-616 | |  | | |  |
| Paraclinus nigripinnis
larva | | 8.3 mm SL | pelvic
fin base melanophore obscured note last dorsal fin element soft and small
third pelvic ray (innermost) | | San Blas,
Panama, SB86-507 | |  | | |  | | |  | | |  | | |  | | |  |
| Paraclinus nigripinnis
larva | | 8.0 mm SL | | melanophores
at anal fin spine bases too | | San Blas, Panama,
SB86-507 | |  | | |  | | |  |
| | |
| | | |
| |
| All contents © copyright 2006 Benjamin
Victor. All rights reserved. | | | |
|