Species: Citharichthys abbotti, Veracruz Whiff

Citharichthys abbotti Dawson, 1969

Veracruz Whiff

Body moderately deep (44-51% of SL); head 27-31% of SL; lower head profile rounded; snout longer than eye; no knobs or spines on head; eyes on left side, top eye slightly before lower, eyes 17-24% of head length; space between eyes a little more than ½ eye diameter, that space not completely filled by bony ridge; mouth medium length (35-39% of head length), ends under rear part of lower eye; teeth ~equally developed on both sides of jaws, in 1 outer row of curved, fixed teeth and 1-2 inner rows of depressible teeth on each jaw, front teeth largest, no canines; gill rakers long and slender, 18-23 (mean 21) total rakers and 5-8 (usually 5) upper rakers; dorsal fin originates before rear nostril, 71-82, length of 1st dorsal ray 24-31% of head length; anal rays 52-60; pectoral fins on both sides of body, with branched rays; eye side pectoral 12-15% of SL, 9-11 rays; pelvics symmetrically positioned on belly, base of eye-side fin on body midline, short bases; tail fin with a blunt point; urinary papilla on blind side, immediately behind anus; lateral line well developed on both sides, eye-side line ~straight, with a small hump over base of pectoral fin, from edge of opercle to tail base; no branch under lower eye; scales rough; 42-49 pored lateral line scales

Eye side densely speckled with small brown spots and blotches; blind side creamy white.

Reaches 17.5 cm.

Lives on fine sand and mud bottoms.

Depth range: 0-2 m.

The SW Gulf of Mexico to Honduras.