Common Name
Honduran Brotula
Year Described
Sedor & Cohen, 1987
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 71-79
Anal Fin: 55-61
Caudal Fin: 16
Pectoral Fin: 21-23
Vertebrae: 39-40
Gill Rakers: 15-19 (on anterior arch)
Lateral Line: 12 dorsal, 20 lateral neuromasts
Genus (Dinematichthys, Alionematichthys) diagnosed by: anterior nostril midway between upper lip and rear nostril; lower anterior gill arch with a short raker sandwiched between two longer rakers. Three long gill rakers. Eyes small but distinct. Two pairs of pseudoclaspers with the inner pair free. Three posterior infra-orbital pores, one upper preopercular pore, and three lower preopercular pores. Opercular spine free. Two pseudobranchial filaments. Body scaled. Scales on head in cheek area (Møller et al., 2004).
Color
Uniformly brownish with a dark abdomen.
Size
Known specimens range from 36-73mm SL.
Habitat
Shallow coral reefs from 0-10m.
Range
Scattered records from around the Caribbean: off Honduras, Belize, Panama, Colombia, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and the NE Lesser Antilles.
References
Møller, P. R., W. Schwarzhans & J. G. Nielsen. 2004. Review of the American Dinematichthyini (Teleostei: Bythitidae). Part I. Dinematichthys, Gunterichthys, Typhliasina and two new gerera. aqua, Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology v. 8 (no. 4): 141-192
Møller, P. R. & W. Schwarzhans. 2008. Review of the Dinematichthyini (Teleostei: Bythitidae) of the Indo-Pacific. Part IV. Dinematichthys and two new genera with descriptions of nine new species. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory No. 24: 87-146.
Sedor, A. N. & D. M. Cohen. 1987. New bythitid fish, Dinematichthys minyomma, from the Caribbean Sea. Contributions in Science (Los Angeles) No. 385: 5-10.
Other Notes
Described in the genus Dinematichthys, but later placed into a new genus distinct from several Indo-Pacific Dinematichthys (Møller & Schwarzhans, 2008)