Aphredoderus Lesueur

Aphredoderus Lesueur in Cuvier and Valenciennes 1833

Aphredoderus Lesueur in Cuvier & Valenciennes 1833:445. Type species Aphredoderus gibbosus Lesueur 1833.

Sternotremia Nelson 1876:39. Type species Sternotremia isolepis Nelson 1876. Type by monotypy.

Asternotremia Nelson in Jordan 1877a:51. Unjustified emendation of Sternotremia Nelson 1876.

Aphododerus Jordan 1877a:52. Unjustified emendation of Aphredoderus LeSuer in Cuvier & Valenciennes 1833.

Diagnosis. Aphredoderus is diagnosed by a combination of an anteriorly migrating cloaca and presence of lacrimal and infraorbital spines. Compared to other United States fishes, Aphredoderus also differ by the combination of a black subocular bar combined with having 3–4 dorsal spines and 10–13 dorsal fin rays.

Description. Generally under 8 cm in standard length. Head large, almost one third standard length. Mouth extends to nearly the anterior margin of eye, lower jaw slightly longer than upper jaw. Teeth small and numerous. Palatine teeth present. Vomerine teeth present in small anterior patch. Oral membrane originates behind anterior maxilla and dentary and terminates near vomerine teeth without reconnecting to tissue. Eye size 20–30% of head length and centered above midline on head. Lacrimal and suborbital bones contain sharp posteriorly angled spines. Branchiostegal rays 6. Posterior and ventral portions of pre-operculum serrate. Scales are ctenoid. Cheeks, opercular series and breast fully scaled. Lateral scale count typically 35–52.

Single dorsal fin originating near apex of dorsum; dorsal fin concave to nearly straight. 3–4 dorsal spines followed by 9–13 forked dorsal rays, with first spine not always visible to naked eye. Anal fin originates at or just behind point where caudal ray terminates and contains 2–3 spines followed by 5–7 forked rays. Caudal fin emarginate, occasionally appearing rounded in juvenile specimens with proximal portion covered by several scale rows. Pectoral fins contain 9–12 forked rays. Pelvic fins originate just posterior to pectoral fins and contains seven rays.

Cloaca located immediately anterior to the anal fin origin, though migrates as the fish matures (Mansueti 1963).

Lateral line usually incomplete, many sensory pores on head as well as several rows of external neuromasts on the dorsal surface of the snout, and many external neuromast patches under the lower jaw. The sensory system has been covered thoroughly in Moore and Burris (Moore & Burris 1956).

Color is usually black or brown, occasionally with a red or purple sheen. Caudal peduncle contains two vertically oriented black spots, chevrons or a bar. Dorsum and sides of fish equally pigmented with the belly typically less pigmented. Dorsal, anal and caudal fins heavily pigmented, particularly along proximal edges. Caudal fin contains thick white dorsal and ventral tips and is usually connected by thinner white margin. Anal fin and dorsal fin often outlined with white distal margin, though lesser than caudal fin. The pectoral and pelvic fins are poorly pigmented if at all.

Distribution. This family is found only in the Eastern half of the United States and does not closely resemble any other North American species.