Heteroclinus heptaeolus (Ogilby, 1885)

Hoese, Douglass F., Hay, Amanda & Dibattista, Joseph D., 2024, A review of the Heteroclinus heptaeolus complex (Pisces: Blennioidei: Clinidae), with three new species and discussion of use of proportions in taxonomic studies, Zootaxa 5432 (3), pp. 301-348 : 338

Key to Species of the Heteroclinus heptaeolus complex.

1a. Orbital tentacle absent; last dorsal ray connected by membrane to caudal peduncle about halfway from base of last ray to base of caudal fin, well away from caudal fin; body with stripes or horizontally elongate oval spots in live; pectoral rays 13................................................................................ Heteroclinus longicauda n. sp.

1b Orbital tentacle present above middle of eye; last dorsal ray connected by membrane to caudal peduncle just before base of caudal fin; body with irregular vertical bars, stripes or spots.................................................... 2

2a. First dorsal fin elevated, second spine distinctly longer than anterior spines of second dorsal fin; second dorsal spine 6.9–11.5% SL; orbital tentacle usually greater than half the eye diameter in adults; pectoral fin-rays 12–13....................... 3

2b. First dorsal fin low, second spine slightly longer than anterior spines of second dorsal fin; second dorsal spine 10.5–16.7% SL; orbital tentacle usually less than half eye diameter in adults; pectoral rays 12...................................... 4

3a. Pectoral rays 13; second dorsal fin with 24–25 spines; anal fin II, 18–19, second dorsal fin not incised; in life head with a thin white or silver bar below eye, followed posteriorly by broad dark bar and a thin white to silver stripe from anteroventral margin of eye to middle of jaws; body with dark spots or vertical bands on midside and dorsally only.......... H. colemani n. sp.

3b. Pectoral rays 12; second dorsal fin with 25–28 spines, rarely 25; anal fin II, 20–22; second dorsal fin slightly incised; in life head with a broad bar from eye to near posterior end of jaw, sometimes bordered with white to silver thin bars and no bar from eye to middle of jaws; body with irregular vertical dark bands extending between dorsal and anal fines.......... H. wilsoni

4a. In life body with irregular vertical dark bands; round dark spots on back below dorsal fin narrower than spaces between spots; broad light areas on second dorsal and anal fins containing 2 or 3 spines and irregular dark pigment; disappearing in preserved material; second dorsal spines 25–28, rarely 25 (less than 5% of specimens counted); anal fin II, 18–21, rarely 18 (in less than 5% of individuals counted); total gill rakers on first arch 6–10, rarely 10................................ H. heptaeolus

4b. In life body with stripes or horizontally elongated spots; round dark spots on back broader than spaces between spots; second dorsal and anal fins with distinct clear windows between spines, sometimes with window containing one spine, windows typically remaining in preserved material; second dorsal spines 23–25; anal fin II,15–18; total gill rakers on first arch 8–12, usually 10 or 11......................................................................... H. whitleyi n. sp.