Common Name
Bahama Skilletfish
Year Described
Briggs, 1963
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 13
Anal Fin: 8-9
Pectoral Fin: 25-26
Caudal Fin: 10-11
Head depressed and wide. Body tapering and becoming laterally compressed posteriorly. Sensory papillae on head poorly developed (none on snout but three on top lip). Papillae on head shallow and lobe-like. Eyes relatively large (1.2 times in interorbital). Rear nostril with two prominent flaps with multiple points. Mouth terminal and small. Top lip broad at front, thin on sides. Top jaw with a large patch of conical teeth at front and a row of teeth on either side. Lower jaw with two rows of 1-3 incisors anteriorly and a single row behind that. Dorsal and anal fins placed far rearward. Tail long with rounded margin. Pectoral fin with large fleshy pad that has a free rear edge. Pelvic disk well developed with 6-7 rows of papillae anteriorly, 5-6 rows posteriorly and 2 patches (2-3 rows each) in the center of the disk. Anus closer to disk than anal fin origin. Scales and lateral line absent.
Color
Body pale whitish to reddish-brown with longitudinal rows of brown spots along the body. Darkest row runs from eye to caudal peduncle. Usually three rows above lateral row and one row under lateral row. A few brown blotches radiate from eyes. Margins of head and disk brighter yellow. Fins range from yellowish to dark brown with black and white margins. Caudal fin with a white bar at base.
Size
Maximum size to 47mm SL.
Habitat
Shallow (<3m) limestone areas attached to substrate.
Range
Known only from the Bahamas.
References
Briggs, J.C. 1963. A new clingfish of the genus Gobiesox from the Bahamas. Copeia, 604-606.
Other Notes
Allied with Gobiesox nigripinnis but differs in structure of disk, coloration, and range.