Rypticus carpenteri Baldwin & Weigt, 2012
Slope soapfish
Rypticus carpenteri
photo by Baldwin, C.C.

Family:  Grammistidae (Soapfishes)
Max. size:  8.6 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 40 m,
Distribution:  Western Central Atlantic: Caribbean.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 3-4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-26; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 13-15. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following unique set of characters: pectoral fin and distal portions of soft dorsal, caudal, and anal fins are pale yellow to yellow in life, pale in preservative; numerous dark spots on head and trunk, size of spots variable but those on head posterior to horizontal through center of orbit almost always smaller than pupil; interorbital region usually with 2 dark spots at posterior end, spots set slightly apart from orbital rim; belly with dark spots; caudal fin and sometimes soft dorsal and anal fins often with at least a few, sometimes tiny, dark spots; dorsal-fin spines 3 or 4 (almost always 4); total dorsal-fin elements modally 25; pectoral-fin rays modally 15; total caudal-fin rays modally 23; lower jaw extending anteriorly beyond upper jaw, mean difference between distance from tip of lower jaw to orbit and tip of upper jaw to orbit 5% head length (HL); relatively narrow caudal peduncle, average depth 11% SL (Ref. 89885).
Biology:  Inhabits clear tropical , mean maximum depth of collected specimens was 17 m, only 6 specimens were collected at depths less than 5 m. This species lives among coral or rocks on steep slopes, vertical walls, or in other areas with large vertical relief, however, a few specimens have been taken among coral heads in shallow flat areas (Ref. 89885).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 23 August 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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