Doug, Curaçao
Info
Tomicodon rupestris is a facultative air breather that occurs mainly in shallow and rocky surf zones, but is rarely noticed due to its small size
The upper side of its body is pale whitish brown, the underside of the head and body are white.
From the eye downwards there are several narrow rays, the one below the center of the eye is triangular.
There are 5 - 6 dark hourglass saddles on the top of the head and back.
The underside of the body has 8 - 13 narrow dark V-shaped bars with wider light-colored spaces in between.
The dorsal fin has a large dark spot covering the base of rays 1 -4/5.
The caudal fin is pale with a dark crescent bar at the base and sometimes a large dark spot in the middle of the fin.
Pectoral fin base with a dark spot on the upper half that extends to the bases of the upper half of the rays, lower half is translucent.
Report from Doug:
These fish like to cling to the hull of our boat right at the waterline. They are difficult to photograph as they roll in and out of the water as the boat rolls.
One of the photos looks like it was taken in the air. They are only about 2 cm in size, difficult to see and refuse to stay in one place.
Synonyms:
Arbaciosa rupestris (Poey, 1860) · unaccepted
Gobiesox rupestris Poey, 1860 · unaccepted
The upper side of its body is pale whitish brown, the underside of the head and body are white.
From the eye downwards there are several narrow rays, the one below the center of the eye is triangular.
There are 5 - 6 dark hourglass saddles on the top of the head and back.
The underside of the body has 8 - 13 narrow dark V-shaped bars with wider light-colored spaces in between.
The dorsal fin has a large dark spot covering the base of rays 1 -4/5.
The caudal fin is pale with a dark crescent bar at the base and sometimes a large dark spot in the middle of the fin.
Pectoral fin base with a dark spot on the upper half that extends to the bases of the upper half of the rays, lower half is translucent.
Report from Doug:
These fish like to cling to the hull of our boat right at the waterline. They are difficult to photograph as they roll in and out of the water as the boat rolls.
One of the photos looks like it was taken in the air. They are only about 2 cm in size, difficult to see and refuse to stay in one place.
Synonyms:
Arbaciosa rupestris (Poey, 1860) · unaccepted
Gobiesox rupestris Poey, 1860 · unaccepted
