Diagnosis: The modal fin-ray count of D-XVIII,12 A-II,18 and P-14 is shared by Labrisomus cricota and the related cryptic species L. nuchipinnis and L. conditus, as well as by Malacoctenus versicolor. The fin-ray count falls within the lower range for L. guppyi and L. kalisherae and the upper range for L. nigricinctus and L. albigenys. (DNA) Ecology: The mock hairy blenny was recently described as endemic to the mainland coast of Brazil by Sazima, Gasparini & Leao de Moura (2002). However, my barcode DNA surveys show that the same species has been collected in Panama, Dominica, and Bahamas, and there is a match to a specimen collected in Florida as well. The first two dorsal-fin spines are longer than the third in L. cricota, and, although the original description notes some marking differences and longer nuchal cirri in L. cricota, it is uncertain whether these latter characters are consistent throughout the wide range. L. cricota adults have a less well-developed opercular ocellus with a wide and diffuse orange rim, however true hairy blennies (with DNA sequence confirmation) vary greatly in markings and colors and some adults can overlap in appearance with the cryptic species (although many have a narrowly-delineated rounded opercular ocellus). L. cricota larvae are rare in collections. Description: (based on the transitional specimen, larval patterns are identical to L. nuchipinnis) Body long, narrow, and thin, with a medium eye, pointed snout, and terminal medium-sized mouth. Long continuous dorsal and anal fins with a short and narrow caudal peduncle. Pectoral fins long, reaching past the vent, and pelvic fins long and thread-like; the third pelvic-fin ray is about 3/4 the length of the second. There are some small spines along the rim of the preoperculum that no longer project as larvae approach and complete transition. The full complement of large melanophores on the top of the head typically consists of a row of three on each side of the head, usually in a narrow-U, i.e. the spots get closer to the dorsal midline anteriorly; quite often there are just five (rarely 7) in a V with a single melanophore at the vertex at or near the midline of the forebrain (note that in both cases the rear side-by-side pair are typically more widely spaced than the middle pair). Often there is an additional near-surface melanophore at the midline behind the mid-brain lobes, completing a narrow-O (not the deep nuchal midline melanophore). There can sometimes be one or, uncommonly, a few smaller additional melanophores. There are no melanophores just behind the tip of the upper jaw, but there can be a small melanophore at the anterior nostril on each side. There is a cheek melanophore on each side. There is a prominent melanophore, or sometimes a few, on the inner aspect of the cleithrum visible within the gill cavity on each side. Melanophores run along the base of all of the soft dorsal-fin rays and some of the dorsal-fin spines, typically including some anterior spines, usually starting at spine 8 (can be at 5 or even 2), then 11-12, and from 14 rearward. A few individuals develop a small melanophore along the dorsal midline of the caudal peduncle. A small melanophore is often located on the body at the lateral midline on the caudal peduncle. A vertical line of melanophores develops along the base of the caudal-fin segmented rays (first proximal, then distal) and thin linear melanophores are spaced out along each side outlining the full-length of the three lower caudal-fin segmented rays (occasionally a few along the upper three rays as well). Along the ventral midline there are melanophores at the isthmus and deep behind the pelvic-fin base. There is occasionally a small melanophore or two at the surface on the ventral aspect of the abdomen, but no extensive speckling of the peritoneum is visible from below. Along the anal fin there is a melanophore at the base of each anal-fin soft ray, followed by one, sometimes two, along the ventral midline of the caudal peduncle. A row of internal melanophores overlies the vertebral column, spaced about every third vertebra, along the mid- and rear body, continuing onto the caudal peduncle. Additional internal melanophores include those at the nuchal midline, otic capsule, and overlying the abdominal organs. Transitional stage: L. cricota larvae develop metamorphic melanophores over the head and body simultaneously. The head is mostly uniformly speckled or reticulated with fine melanophores while the body is uniformly reticulated with a network of thin lines not separated into bars. As in other Labrisomus, the prominent head melanophores begin to shrink, spread, or fragment into smaller spots, or narrow into short lines (usually the middle pair); later they are obscured by underlying speckling and overlying shading. Juveniles: L. cricota develop a pattern of reticulations and dark bars on the body, a dark spot on the first three dorsal-fin spine membranes, and a diffusely broad orange-outlined opercular ocellus. Juvenile blennies of this group can vary greatly in the degree of these dark markings; some light individuals intensify their white spots and fade, or sort of pixelate, their melanocytes, while others are darkly-reticulated and some can be almost uniformly dark. Analogues: Pretransitional L. cricota are probably identical to the larvae of the cryptic species L. nuchipinnis and L. conditus. As larvae approach transition, the first dorsal-fin spine becomes longer than the third in L. cricota vs. shorter or equal in L. nuchipinnis and L. conditus. L. cricota larvae can resemble large Malacoctenus larvae since they have thinner heads (side-to-side), smaller eyes, and smaller mouths than most other large Labrisomus species. Nevertheless, the melanophore row along the base of some of the spinous dorsal fin separates L. cricota larvae from all Malacoctenus larvae other than the occasional variant specimen of M. triangulatus. The latter, however, do not have melanophores outlining the caudal-fin segmented rays or the central caudal peduncle spot and usually have more numerous and graded-size head spots (as well as higher median-fin ray counts, a short third pelvic-fin ray, and a different dorsal-fin outline, with short posterior spines). L. haitiensis larvae have a similar slim morphology and share the row of melanophores along some of the spinous dorsal-fin base and, to varying degrees, most of the other markings of larval L. cricota, but they can be distinguished by a short and inconspicuous third pelvic-fin ray, a pair of melanophores behind the tip of the upper jaw (apparently absent on L. cricota larvae), and higher fin-ray counts. Transitional L. cricota larvae are distinguished by fin-ray counts, persistent larval melanophores, and their metamorphic melanophore pattern, i.e. a uniform pattern of fine reticulations. They are also separated from transitional Malacoctenus larvae by having shorter cirri (especially orbital), the fine metamorphic melanophores on the head mostly diffusely distributed (vs. in discrete patches) and developing at the same time as body markings (vs. head first), and the dorsal-fin outline. The other Labrisomus species develop uniform shading or bars, except for the two allied cryptic species which share the reticulations of L. cricota: transitional L. nuchipinnis and L. conditus are best distinguished by the first dorsal-fin spine being shorter than or equal to the third. Juvenile L. cricota are separated from most other labrisomids by the anterior dorsal fin spot and a diffusely broad orange-outlined opercular ocellus. L. nuchipinnis, L. nigricinctus, and L. filamentosus have a well-outlined rounded ocellus. Other Labrisomus juveniles with a dark spot on the operculum include the cryptic species L. conditus, which have most of the same markings but the first dorsal-fin spine is shorter than or equal to the third (vs. longer); L. guppyi, with no dorsal-fin spot; and L. haitiensis, with no dorsal-fin spot and a short third pelvic fin ray. The 19- and 20-spined Labrisomus species can be separated by higher fin-ray counts and blunter snouts, less than two-thirds the bony orbit diameter.
Labrisomus cricota, the Mock blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny native to the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea where it occurs on rocky bottoms with plentiful algal growth at depths down to 4 metres (13 ft). It is believed that the territorial males keep harems of females. Males of this species can reach a length of 9.3 centimetres (3.7 in) SL while females can attain a length of 10.3 centimetres (4.1 in). This is a species sought after by local subsistence fisheries.[2]
Labrisomus cricota, the Mock blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny native to the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea where it occurs on rocky bottoms with plentiful algal growth at depths down to 4 metres (13 ft). It is believed that the territorial males keep harems of females. Males of this species can reach a length of 9.3 centimetres (3.7 in) SL while females can attain a length of 10.3 centimetres (4.1 in). This is a species sought after by local subsistence fisheries.
