Patch Reef Goby

Analogues: The 10/10 sand goby clade share fin-ray counts, morphology, and most markings as larvae and new recruits. C. tortugae and the other head-striped sand gobies develop short stripes on top of the head very early in transition, separating them from the spotted-head gobies (i.e. C. eidolon, C. thrix, C. alloides, C. kuna, and the non-sand Coryphopterus species). C. tortugae begin to diverge when they develop a cluster of melanophores below the eye at 6-7 o'clock on the orbital rim (i.e. under the anterior pupil) vs. at 7-8 o'clock (and then continuing as a line across the upper jaw to the tip) on C. glaucofraenum. C. bol share the cluster under the eye and only diverge from C. tortugae when they develop melanophores on the lower third of the pectoral-fin base (absent on C. tortugae) and then a complete long upper eye-stripe (broken on C. tortugae); note that these long surface eye stripes overlie the short eye stripes of the transitional stage. C. tortugae develop a basicaudal bar, notably without the rounded colon-like spots on the base of the caudal fin as seen on C. glaucofraenum.

Diagnosis: Modal fin-ray counts of D-VI,10 A-10 and Pect-18-20 with fused pelvic fins indicate the 10/10 Coryphopterus sand gobies, i.e. Coryphopterus tortugae, C. glaucofraenum, C. dicrus, C. eidolon, and C. thrix. The distinguishing features of adult C. tortugae are mostly not present on recruits and small juveniles.

This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: modal D VI, I,9; A I,9; pectoral fin rays 19; longitudinal scale series 26-27; pelvic fins are fully joined medially by a membrane, innermost rays branched and about equal in length to the next ray and a distinct frenum between the two pelvic fin spines; a prominent, dark, upward-pointed triangle-marking on the stripe behind the eye, collection of small melanophores on the lower third of the pectoral fin base absent; bar of melanophores from the eyeball at 8 o’clock to the mid-maxillary absent; 2 or 3 discrete spots along the dorsal midline on the top of the head between the interorbital and dorsal fin; usually an incomplete upper eye-stripe; and a basicaudal marking that is typically a simple vertical bar (Ref. 75186).

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 9

Collected in shallow sandy bays with clear water and some coral growth together with C. glaucofraenum; also In areas of shallow patch reefs, clear water, and low currents (Ref. 75186).

Coryphopterus tortugae, the patch-reef goby, is a species of goby found in the Western Central Atlantic Ocean.

This species reaches a length of 4.1 cm (1.6 in).