IDENTIFICATION

Head Pores - Cephalic canals paired between the eyes from pore D anteriorly; Pores present A',B,C(2), D,F,H'; preopercle with generally 3 pores.

Scales - Ctenoid scales extend anteriorly to under 5th D1 on dorsal; to near pectoral base at midline; 30(28-33) in lateral series; no scales on predorsal area, cheek, or opercle

Fins - D1 - VI, spines 3-4 slightly produced; D2 - 12(11-13); pectoral - 16(13-17); anal - 13(12-14); pelvic I,5 a disk, reaching to anus in males, not reaching in females;

Head -

Papillae -

Color - Snout with a pair of streaks from eye to jaw, one below posterior nares running through anterior nares, the other midway bewteen corner of jaw and tip of snout. A dark patch at upper corner of jaw connected to horizontal stripe along median longitudinal cheek papillae row, forming a hatchet- or axe-like mark. Lower lip, chin dusky. Top of head sometimes mottled. Nape with several bars of variable distinction. Opercle dusky.
Small patch at upper angle of opercle on trunk, less intense than hatchet mark. Five midlateral oblong blotches, often much longer than deep, approaching dash pattern of C. saepepallens; anteriormost blotch often indistinct and blending with other smaller blotches, posteriormost basicaudal. A prominent small dark spot above and below basicaudal blotch on caudal peduncle. Small dark flecks scattered on sides. Subcutaneous row of dark spots sometimes apparent at base of anal fin.

Pectoral fins usually faintly flecked or indistinctly barred in females; with 3-4 thin, vertical bars in males. Pectoral base with dark blotche dorsally on both sides of fin. Pelvic fins with dark margin, including interspinal membrane in males, sometimes incomplete over termini of innermost rays; in females 2 dark streaks along interradial membrane connecting the 2 fins, converging or approaching one another posteriorly, with pigment continuing forward over base of interspinal membrane, to give the appearance of a dark "scarf" thrown over the joined pelvic fin. D1 with several series of light blotches forming diagonal bars in females; two distinct horizontal stripes in males with uppermost, at mid-fin height, forming dark spot posteriorly spanning both sides of 5th spine where it terminates. D2 with blotches forming diagonal bars in both sexes, lightly dusted with pigment towards tips of rays. Anal fin dusky in males; clear with submarginal band in females. Caudal fin dusky over lower third, medially with faint vertical bars more pronounced towards base, and upper third with a clear diagonal streak beneath a dusty margin; females with more pronounced barring medially, dusky lower and upper margins, upper margin often with an elongate blotch. (Pezold 84)

Distribution - East Pacific; southern Baja and western Gulf to northern Peru

Habitat - Brackish mangrove streams in mud

Notes -