Barbulifer ceuthoecus

Photos by J. Van Tassell
top: Fl color pattern
bottom: Jamaica color pattern

updated 12 Oct 2006

IDENTIFICATION Head Pores - B', F, H' and preopercle pores M',N' Scales - Body without scales; no basicaudal scales. Fins - D1 - VII; D2 - 9-11; pectoral 16-19; anal 8-10; caudal 17 branched rays

Head - Tongue tip bilobed; anterior nostril tubular; posterior nostril a short tube; barbels short, less than 1/2 eye diameter, one between eye and posterior margin of mouth, another behind and below lower lip and one on posterior part of lower lip, 14-16 along the ventral margin of the head

Teeth - upper jaw with 3-4 rows of teeth outer row enlarged, inner row not enlarged, large canines absent; lower jaw with outer and inner row enlarged, large canines present.

Papillae - A transverse pattern with vertical rows under the eye extending below the level of row d.

Color - Variable with dark on top and light below.

Distribution - Bahamas and south Florida, extending north to Virginia Key in Biscayne Bay; Venezuela and the Central American coast; may be a recent immigrant through the Panama Canal (B&R 68)

Habitat - Found in shallow waters associated with algae and sponge habitats

Notes -