Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 174 - 366 m (Ref. 93751). Deep-water
Western Central Atlantic: NW Carribean, Arrowsmith Bank, off the Yucatan Peninsula.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 2.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 93751)
Dorsal spines (total): 18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 20; Vertebrae: 37. Common amongst Labrisomids: small, often elongate fishes; largest species about 20 cm standard length, most under 10 cm standard length. Head usually with cirri or fleshy flaps on anterior nostrils, eyes, and laterally on nape; gill membranes continuous with each other across posteroventral surface of head. Each jaw with an outer row of relatively large, canine-like or incisor-like teeth, often with patches of smaller teeth behind; teeth usually also present on vomer and often on palatines (roof of mouth). Dorsal and anal fins long, frequently highest anteriorly; dorsal-fin spines often flexible, outnumbering segmented dorsal-fin soft rays; 2 usually flexible spines in anal fin; pelvic fins inserted anterior to pectoral-fin bases, with 1 spine not visible externally and only 2 or 3 segmented rays; all fin rays, including those of caudal, unbranched (simple). Cycloid (smooth to touch) scales present at least posteriorly on body. Body coloration: varying from drab to brilliant hues; usually with irregular vertical bands, spots, or marbled pattern. Species distinguished by: no lateral-line tubes or canals on body; dorsal fin consisting of spines and 7 to 37 segmented rays (Ref.52855).
This species differs H. dropi in having 31 dorsal-fin elements (vs. 29), the differences occurring in the third spinous dorsal finlet and soft dorsal fin (III-I-XIII, 12 in H. dropi , III-I-XIII, 14 or III-I-XIV, 13 in H. apectolophus); this species have much more pigment on the ventral portion of the body than there is dorsally, and there are no obvious internal or external blotches of pigment; the first dorsal finlet is uniformly dark and both the spinous and soft parts of the dorsal fin are peppered with fine melanophores in no apparent pattern; basal three-quarters of anal fin are heavily and uniformly pigmented, and the distal quarter is pale; caudal and pectoral fins lack melanophores; fleshly flap extending from anterior margin and covering anterior half of nostril; body depth 17.9% SL, at fourth dorsal spine and depth at caudal peduncle 9.1% SL (Ref. 93751).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Baldwin, C. and R. Robertson, 2013. A new Haptoclinus blenny (Teleostei, Labrisomidae) from deep reefs off Curaçao, southern Caribbean, with comments on relationships of the genus. ZooKeys 306(2013):71-81. (Ref. 93751)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.7500 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00537 (0.00222 - 0.01301), b=3.08 (2.87 - 3.29), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
