Aboma etheostoma

Photos - top preserved male; bottom live male
photos J. Van Tassell

update 18 March 2006

IDENTIFICATION - Head pores B,C(s),D(s),E,F,G,H' and K',L'; preopercle pores M',N,O' Scales - Scales extend from the caudal fin forward to the first or second spine of the first dorsal; upper naked area extends from the upper pectoral fin base to first or second dorsal fin origin; lower naked area extending from below lower margin of pectoral base to the anus; transverse scales: 10(6) 11(5) 12(3) 13(1); lateral scales: 26(3) 27(3) 28)6) 29(5) 30(4); no scales on opercle, cheek, predorsal

Fins - D1 - 7; D2 - 12(29) 11(6); A - 11(30) 10(4); P - 16(11) 17(9) 18(12) 19(1); first 1-2 spines filamentous in larger males

Head - Rounded but more compressed that the typical Gobiosoma head; the overall body is distinctly more slender than a Gobiosoma.

Papillae - Row 5i under middle of row b; row 2 projects below level of row d, past ventral of lower jaw;row 3 not extending below row d; papillae small

Color - Color pattern is variable; generally dark colored with light areas on the head and light saddles behind the first dorsal and on the caudal peduncle; distinct dak banding on the tail is distinctly noticable as is the dark mark on the pectoral fin.

DISTRIBUTION - Eastern Gulf of California to eastern Panama.

HABITAT - Found in Panama buried in the sediments of muddy bottom estuaries.

NOTES - This species does not belong in the genus Gobiosoma. see Ruber, Van Tassell and Zardoya. 2003. Evolution 57(7): 1584-1598

Photo by J. Van Tassell - male with extended D1 filaments - Panama