IDENTIFICATION

Head Pores - Oculoscapular canal with pores B',D,F,G,H'; preopercle canal with 2 sometimes 3 pores

Scales - midlateral scales about 35; scales mainly cycloid, except patch of ctenoid scales beneath pectoral fin; head, nape, breast, belly, and pectoral fin base scaleless

Fins - D1 - VII, not elongate in either sex; D2 - 15(14-15); pectoral - 23(20-23); anal - 15(14-15)

Head - a low, fleshy nuchal crest in both sexes

Papillae -

Color - MALES: preserved specimens: body with few melanophores, appearing tan to brownish in preservative: darkly pigmented epaxial myosepta (especially pronounced myoseptal pigmentation over pectoral fin;; no spot or blotch on body over pectoral fin; dorsum dusky: body along anal fin base pigmented with a dark line; dorsum of head and lips dusky; papillary chains on head darkly pigmented making them plainly visible; spinous dorsal fin pale with a median dusky stripe and a dusky distal border (becoming very dark along margin); soft dorsal fin dusky with pale, basal stripe and dark distal margin: anal dusky; paler along base: pectoral fins dusky: pelvic fin pale with few melanophores; caudal fin dusky, darkest along distal portion of medial rays and with indications of a pale longitudinal stripe in the distal portion. (Birdsong 81)

FEMALES. Body and head pigmented as in the males. Spinous dorsal fin dusky basally, pale distally with dark distal margin; soft dorsal fin dusky with pale stripe .in posterior half of fin which is continuous with pale stripe in the caudal fin; anal fin uniformly dusky; pectoral fins dusky proximally, pale distally: pelvic fins dark (many large melanophores) with pale distal border. (Birdsong 81)

Distribution - northern Gulf of California to the Gulf of Panama

Habitat - common in the Gulf of Panama in depths from 15 to – 30m over mud and broken shell bottom. The caducous scales and delicate fin membranes suggest that this species, like, M. cyclolepis, does not burrow. (Birdsong 81)

Notes -