Species: Acyrtus nudus, Padded Clingfish

Acyrtus nudus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Padded Clingfish

Tadpole shaped, with flattened body and wide flattened head; a few fleshy lobes under chin, but nowhere else on head; front nostril with a large branched skin flap; top lip broad, much wider at front than at sides; top jaw with a deep patch of irregular incisors at front, no canines or conical teeth behind; lower jaw with incisors at front, then 1 large canine then 4 small conical teeth behind those on side; 1 dorsal fin, at rear, no spines, 7-8; anal fin 6-7, like dorsal fin and under it; pectoral fin 23-25, lower 5-7 rays not markedly reduced in size; sucker very large, front and rear parts with a broad band of papillae, central part with 2 close-set patches of papilla; a conspicuous fleshy pad at base of pectoral fin; no scales; lateral line present as pores on head only.

Pale fish: body and head with pale grey background densely covered with darker blotches formed by tight clusters of dark dots; iris with an inner cream ring; . Dark fish: body grey to reddish, with a dense network darker brown blotches; iris with an inner red ring; head with indistinct bars radiating down from eye, dark blotches on body form 5 indistinct bars, one across rear of head, 2 on body before dorsal fin, one under dorsal fin, one on tail base; tail fin with 3 dark vertical bars formed by rows of spots; dorsal, anal and pectoral fins with dark rays.

Reaches 9 cm.

Lives in surge zones of rocky shores.

Depth range: 0-8 m.

The Bahamas to the S Caribbean.

Note: A. macrophthalmus is a synonym.