Flexor incus Conway, Stewart & Summers, 2018
Kermadec clingfish

Family:  Gobiesocidae (Clingfishes and singleslits), subfamily: Diademichthyinae
Max. size:  2.72 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 28 m
Distribution:  Pacific Ocean: Australia to New Zealand and New Caledonia.
Diagnosis:  This species is distinguished by the following characters: head and anteriormost part of body similar in width; relatively elongate body with a small, double adhesive disc beneath the anteriormost part of the body; an oval-shaped gap between the premaxillae formed by a semicircular indentation along medial edge of premaxilla; premaxilla with a single row of teeth, with 2-3 peg-like, conical teeth anteriorly at, and adjacent to, symphysis and 10-12 strongly laterally compressed, incisiviform teeth with strongly recurved cusp, along the outer margin of bone; lower jaw with a single row of 14-16 small, conical teeth with sharply pointed and slightly recurved tip; posterior tip of the basipterygium expanded and articulating with anteromedial edge of ventral postcleithrum via a shallow concave facet; mandibular part of preoperculo-mandibular lateral line canal absent; lachrymal canal with 2 pores; upper and lower lip simple, uniform in thickness along jaw margin (Ref. 124119).
Biology:  Known only from the intertidal and subtidal waters of the Kermadec Islands, including Raoul Island and L’Esperance Rock. Most of the specimens collected using ichthyocides were from rock pools and from shallower subtidal areas (down to 9 meters) over rock and coral rubble. A single specimen has been observed and photographed at 28 meters in depth (Ref. 124119).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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