Species: Tomicodon fasciatus, Barred Clingfish

Tomicodon fasciatus (Peters, 1859)

Barred Clingfish

Body and head relatively slender (both viewed from above); front nostril with a well developed skin flap; the only teeth at front of both jaws are a single row of flattened incisors, some with 3 points, top jaw with 2 canines, 8-11 incisors, lower jaw 2-4 canines, 6 incisors; 1 dorsal fin, at rear, no spines, 8 (7-8); anal fin like dorsal fin and under it, origin under dorsal rays 3-5, 7 rays; pectoral 20 (20-22), only a small fleshy swelling at pectoral base; sucker disc with broad patches of papillae at front (5 rows) and rear (6-7 rows), but no papillae in center, front edge of disc with fleshy tabs; tail fin 10-12 segmented rays; anus midway between sucker disc and anal fin origin to nearer sucker; no scales; lateral line present as pores on head only.

Preserved fish: with ~6 dark hourglass shaped bars across back, 1st on head, last on tail base; side of body with 6-8 dark bars; a strong dark spot on upper side above pectoral base; a dark spot at front of dorsal fin; inner 1/2 of tail fin dark; pectoral fin colorless or with a large dark blotch on base and inner 2/3 of fin.

Reaches 3.6 cm.

Usually clearwater rocky shores, but also near mangroves.

Depth range: 0-5 m?

The Bahamas, E to SW Caribblean.

Note: Its Brazilian sister species is T. australis.