IDENTIFICATION

Head Pores - No head pores

Scales - Scaled from below middle of D1 to caudal; scales embedded in thick epidermis; posterior scales ctenoid anterior cycloid; lateral series with 27-29 scales; modified basicaudal scales present;

Fins - D1 - VII, no spines elongate; D2 - 11(11-12); pectoral - 19-21(18-21); anal - 10(31); pelvic - I,5 fins seperated but with small frenum;

Head - Maxilla reaching to below posterior margin of pupil or eye; tongue broad and truncate; teeth in upper jaw: outer row of large, well spaced caniniform teeth, 2 or 3 irregular inner rows of much smaller pointed teeth; lower jaw: outer row of 6-8 enlarged canines anteriorly only; internal to this another row or two of medium sized pointed teeth becoming a single row posteriorly; an inner row of long well spaced canines, the last 2 or 3 on each side of dentary much enlarged recurved fangs

Papillae - A transverse pattern with three vertical rows in fron of row b

Color - Color in alcohol: mottled brown over head and body with variable patches of paler ground showing through. Typical pattern a series of six pale blotches or small irregular saddlesevenly spaced along dorsal midline; beginning at origin of forst dorsal fin, last slightly behind posterior end of second dorsal fin base. Typically a small conspicuous, completely unpigmented circular area on upper hypural rays posterior to 6th blotch on dorsal midline. Five or six pairs of short pale streaks equally spaced along midline of body, a single streak just behind pectoral axil; streaks distinct, diffuse or absent in some specimens. Additional vertically elongate spots or streaks above midline of some specimens; these spots spaced between saddles and/or confluent with saddle markings. A few specimens with pairs of black spots interspaced with pale markings along posterior half of midline.

Head dark mottled brown, a vertical black bar below eye, an oblique black bar extending from anteroventral margin of eye to upper jaw in some specimens. A short black streak running obliquely downward from posteroventral margin of eye, diffuse in some specimens. A black spot behind eye at end of fleshy ridge crossing head posterior to interorbital space; another at posterodorsal corner of preopercle. An irregular group of 4-5 spots on lower half of cheek; 3-4 unpigmented blotches, sometimes diffuse, on opercle.

Pigmentation of dorsal fins dusky or with a few to many dark and clear spots forming irregular rows. Often a proximal row of spots above base of spinous dorsal fin, 2-3 longitudinal rows of spots on proximal half of soft dorsal and several larger spots along base of soft dorsal fin, extending somewhat onto dorsum of body. Dorsal fins of holotype dusky with only small hyaline areas. Anal fin typically dusky with a clear margin and a submarginal dark streak running along entire fin. A conspicuous dark crossbar on base of caudal rays below 4 basicaudal scales; rest of fin dusky. Pectoral fins dusky proximally; pelivc fin rays brown except for clear tips.
Freshly preserved specimens: head and body predominantly risset with contrasting white spots on lower cheek and opercle; 8 irregular white bars along lateral midline of body; eight pale dorsal saddles not too conspicuous due to numerous expanded melanophores; circular hylanine area on upper hypurals not apparent. One specimen with diffuse dark blotches on dorsal midline alternating with pale saddles. Spinous dorsal fin with proximal black longitudinal band; soft dorsal fin with five oblique rows of black spots contrasting with small circular areas. Anal fin with black submarginal band and caudal fin clear except for black crossbar. (Bussing 1990)

Distribution - Endemic to Isla del Coco, far off the southwestern coast of Costa Rica

Habitat -

Notes -