Tomicodon briggsi Williams & Tyler 2003

Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Analsoft rays: 7; Vertebrae: 29 - 31

Collected from areas with sand and coral bottom (Ref. 50106).

Tomicodon briggsi

DESCRIPTION (Table 1).—Dorsal-fin rays 7. Anal-fin rays 7. Pectoral-fin rays 21 or 22 (mode 21). Caudal-fin segmented rays 10 or 11 (mode 10). Vertebrae 13–15 + 15–18 = 29–31 (mode 13+17 = 30); last rib on vertebra 13 or 16 (mode 13); last epineural on vertebra 21–25. Anal-fin origin positioned at vertical from base of dorsal-fin ray 2 or 3. Upper jaw with 2 canines, 9–12 incisors. Lower jaw with 2 canines, 6 incisors. Anterior margin of pelvic disk smooth. Pelvic disk region A with 6 or 7 irregular rows of papillae (papillae of innermost row larger than others and longitudinally elongate, best developed in larger specimens); region B with 7 irregular rows. Anus near anal-fin origin. Anterior nostril without dermal flap.

Body elongate, rounded in cross section. Head length 29.9%–32.5% SL (x = 31.2%). Head width 20.7%–26.6% SL (x = 23.6%). Pelvic disk small, length 21.3%–22.7% SL (x = 22.0%). Longest known specimen 17.3 mm SL.

Mature ovaries flattened dorsoventrally, restricted to posterodorsal half of body cavity. Two paratypes, 15.4 and 16.0 mm SL (both USNM 365845), with well-developed ovaries, right ovary of each with about 28–30 eggs. Largest egg diameter among specimens examined about 0.15 mm. Sexually mature 11.1 mm SL paratype (FMNH 93758) with about 12 eggs in right ovary. Genital papilla of females forming a slender tube, with base of tube only slightly broader than distal portion (males similar) and with tip rounded to pointed.

ECOLOGICAL HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION.—Specimens from the Grenadines and Belize were collected in areas with a mix of sand bottom and coral. Habitat data are unknown for specimens collected at St. Croix. Known depth range is 0–12 m.

PRESERVED COLOR PATTERN (Figure 3).—Pigmentation apparently fades after preservation.

Males: Head and body with faint bars composed of pale brown reticulations on straw-colored background. Head with five very faint, narrow bars radiating from eye: anteriormost bar from eye extending anteriorly almost to middle of upper lip; bar beneath middle of eye short, with slight bifurcation into short anteriorly and posteriorly directed portions; remaining bars extending from eye posteroventrally for a distance about equal to eye diameter, except posterodorsalmost bar merging with reticulate bar on top of head. Underside of head pale, without obvious melanophores. Interorbital space with scattered melanophores forming reticulate pattern extending posteriorly and merging with reticulate nape bar; nape bar extending ventrally onto dorsalmost pectoral-fin ray. Dorsum of body with approximately four faint reticulate bars with narrow, dusky interspaces posterior to nape bar; all four body bars extending ventrally to about middle of side of body; first two bars positioned between nape and dorsal-fin origin; next bar at dorsal-fin origin; last bar on caudal peduncle. Belly pale. Dorsal fin with streak of scattered melanophores along distal one-fourth of fin; basal three-fourths of fin unpigmented. Anal fin without melanophores. Caudal fin with streak of melanophores along dorsal and ventral borders from posterior end of caudal peduncle to middle of fin; upper and lower edges of each fin ray outlined with melanophores in midregion of fin; remainder of caudal fin translucent (see Figure 3A, lateral view). Pelvic disk unpigmented. Pectoral-fin base unpigmented, but one specimen with faint reticulations on base.

Females: Similar to males.

FRESH COLORATION.—Unknown.

ETYMOLOGY.—The species is named in honor of John C. Briggs, Georgia Museum of Natural History, in recognition of his pioneering monograph on clingfish systematics.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Holotype: U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. St. Croix: USNM 360612 (16.0 mm SL, female); sta 726; A.H. Ruse; collection date unknown, cataloged at USNM in 1875.

Paratypes: BELIZE. Carrie Bow Cay: FMNH 93758 (1: 11.1 mm SL, female); coral at S end of island, bottom sand with good coral development; 0–1 m depth; G-78-4; D.W. Greenfield, T. Greenfield, C. Rakocinski; rotenone. GRENADINES. Little St. Vincent Island: ANSP 126691 (1: 12.8 mm SL) off NW point of Little St. Vincent (NE of Carriacou Island), white sand bottom with low coral heads, 120 m from shore; 10.5–12 m depth; TE-13; J.C. Tyler, W.N. Eschmeyer, G. Koven; 27 Jun 1965; rotenone. U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. St. Croix: USNM 365845 (4: 15.0–17.3 mm SL); collected with holotype.