Four-fin Blenny

description

Description. Dorsal-fin elements: III-I-XIII, 12; anal-fin elements II, 19; ultimate pterygiophore of dorsal and anal fins supporting a single segmented soft ray. Pectoral-fin rays 12, 12. Pelvic-fin rays I, 3. Segmented caudal-fin rays 7 + 6, procurrent caudal-fin rays 6 + 5. All fin rays unbranched. Vertebrae 12 + 24 = 36. Three anal-fin pterygiophores anterior to first haemal spine. Measurements (in mm): head length 6.6, snout length 1.3, eye diameter 1.0, body depth at fourth dorsal-fin spine 3.5, depth at caudal peduncle 1.0, greatest head width 5.4, body width at anus 2.0, width of bony interorbital 0.4, length of upper jaw 2.6, length of caudal peduncle 2.0, distance from snout to origin of dorsal fin 4.1, distance from snout to upper pectoral-fin base 5.9, distance from snout to insertion of pelvic fin 4.4, distance from snout to origin of anal fin 9.2, length of first dorsal-fin spine 4.1, length of second dorsal-fin spine 3.8, length of third dorsal-fin spine 1.5, length of fourth dorsal-fin spine 0.7, length of longest pectoral-fin ray 4.2, length of pelvic fin 4.1, length of longest caudal-fin ray 3.4. Body without scales or scale pockets. Small, pointed teeth present i

A new Haptoclinus blenny (Teleostei, Labrisomidae) from deep reefs off Curacao, southern Caribbean, with comments on relationships of the genus

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A species of Haptoclinus distinguished from its congener by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin elements III-I-XIII, 12; anal-fin soft rays 19; pectoral-fin rays 12; precaudal vertebrae 12; first dorsal-fin spine longer than second dorsal-fin spine; scales absent; posterior nostril without fleshy flap; and trunk, dorsal- and anal fins with spotted pigment pattern in preservative.

A new Haptoclinus blenny (Teleostei, Labrisomidae) from deep reefs off Curacao, southern Caribbean, with comments on relationships of the genus

etymology

Etymology. The specific name is in reference to the acronym for the Smithsonian Institution's Deep Reef Observation Project (DROP), which is treated here as a noun in the genitive case. Haptoclinus dropi is the first of numerous new species that will be described from DROP submersible research in the southern Caribbean.

A new Haptoclinus blenny (Teleostei, Labrisomidae) from deep reefs off Curacao, southern Caribbean, with comments on relationships of the genus