Tomicodon clarkei Williams & Tyler 2003

Known from a single specimen (Ref. 50106).

Tomicodon clarkei

DESCRIPTION (Table 1).—Dorsal-fin rays 7. Anal-fin rays 7. Pectoral-fin rays 20. Caudal-fin segmented rays 11. Vertebrae 14 + 16=30; last rib on vertebra 15; last epineural on vertebra 23. Anal-fin origin positioned at vertical from base of dorsal-fin ray 4. Upper jaw with 2 canines, 8 incisors. Lower jaw with 2 canines, 4 incisors. Anterior margin of pelvic disk smooth (membrane thin, flexible, and only weakly and broadly crenulate). Pelvic disk region A with 5 irregular rows of papillae; region B with 5 irregular rows. Anus position midway. Anterior nostril without dermal flap.

Body elongate, rounded in cross section. Head length 30.5% SL. Head width 17.7% SL. Pelvic disk small, length 20.6% SL.

Mature ovaries elongate and cylindrical. Holotype (14.1 mm SL; USNM 358693) with well-developed ovaries, right ovary with about 8 eggs, largest egg about 0.4 mm in diameter. Genital papilla long, slender, and recessed into longitudinal groove.

ECOLOGICAL HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION.—This species is known from a single specimen from Carrie Bow Cay, Belize. The specimen was collected at a depth of 5 m from a 130 cm high colony of dead Acropora palmata by using quinaldine. The holotype was observed underwater with its head slightly protruding from a hole surrounded by pink calcareous algae on the undersurface of a coral branch about 80 cm above the substrate. Despite years of observing and collecting with quinaldine the small, hole-dwelling fishes (by JCT, especially chaenopsid tube blennies) in the spur-and-groove formations at Carrie Bow Cay, we believe this is the first (and only) specimen of Tomicodon to have been observed or collected from that habitat and locality thus far. Careful and modest application of rotenone, which rarely has been used in that habitat at the Carrie Bow Cay marine laboratory, might yield additional specimens of this elusive species.

PRESERVED COLOR PATTERN (Figure 4).—Pigmentation faded rapidly after preservation of the only known specimen (R.D. Clarke, pers. observ., 1999).

Female: Head and body of holotype straw colored, without broad, dark bars; irregular cluster of melanophores on nape, a few other melanophores along dorsum to about midpoint of body. Head with approximately five very faint, narrow bars radiating from eye: anteriormost bar radiating from eye to middle of upper lip, extending anteriorly and meeting similar bar from other side; posterodorsalmost bar extending from eye to border of opercle. Underside of head unpigmented. Belly, dorsal fin, anal fin, caudal fin, pelvic disk, pectoral fin, pectoral base, and remainder of body unpigmented.

FRESH COLORATION.—Color observations were made by R.D. Clarke at the time of collection.

Holotype tanish overall with orangish pink cast, about same color as the patch of pinkish calcareous algae surrounding the hole from which it was collected; specimen without prominent markings when examined fresh under a compound microscope.

ETYMOLOGY.—The species is named in honor of Raymond D. Clarke, Professor of Biology at Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York, who collected the holotype and only known specimen during his studies of the behavioral ecology of chaenopsid blennies at Carrie Bow Cay, Belize.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Holotype: BELIZE. Carrie Bow Cay: USNM 358693 (14.1 mm SL, female); spur-and-groove formation off E side of island; 16°48.15′N, 88°04.91′W; 5 m depth; R.D. Clarke; 27 Jul 1999.

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Tomicodon clarkei Tomicodon generoko animalia da. Arrainen barruko Gobiesocidae familian sailkatzen da.

克氏割齒喉盤魚，為輻鰭魚綱鱸形目喉盤魚亞目喉盤魚科的其中一種，分布於中西大西洋區的貝里斯海域，棲息深度可達5公尺，體長可達1.4公分，屬底棲性魚類。