Galapagos Species Database
The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.
Rypticus nigripinnis
Jabonero negro, jabonero negro, jabonero doble punteado, Black soapfish, twice-spotted soapfish
Size: 13-17 cm. Somewhat flattened body with distinctly rounded ends on dorsal, anal and tail fins. Mattled shades of dark brown to black (Mottled Soapfish generally lighter color). Pale, often yellowish, blotches extend on fins and cheeks. L
Habitat: Hidden in dark recesses on rocky reefs and alongs walls during day; nocturnal, preying on small fishes.
Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Teleostei
Order
Perciformes
Family
Serranidae
Genus
Rypticus
Species
nigripinnis
Taxon category: Accepted
Syn.: Promicropterus decoratus Gill, 1863, Rhypticus maculatus Gill, 1862, Rhypticus nigripinnis Gill, 1861 (misspelling), fide Appeltans et al. (2010)
Origin: Native
Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.
Distribution: From the Gulf of California to the Gulf of Guayaquil, Ecuador including Galapagos, Gulf of California and Southern Baja California to Northern Peru. Malpelo and Galápagos Islands.
- Appeltans, W. Bouchet, P., Boxshall, G.A., Fauchald, K., Gordon, D.P., Hoeksema, B.W., Poore, G.C.B., van Soest, R.W.M., Stöhr, S., Walter, T.C., Costello, M.J. (eds.) (2010) World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Available online at http://www.marinespecies.org.
- Edgar, G.J. Fariña, J.M., Calvopiña, M., Martínez, C. & Banks, S. (2002) Comunidades submareales rocosas II: Peces y macroinvertebrados móviles. In: Danulat, E. & Edgar, G.J. (eds.) (2002): Reserva Marina de Galápagos. Línea Base de la Biodiversidad. Fundación Charles Darwin/Servicio Parque Nacional Galápagos, Santa Cruz, Galápagos, Ecuador, p. 68-97.
- Grove, J.S. Lavenberg, R.J. (1997) The Fishes of the Galapagos Islands. Stanford University Press, Stanford California. 862 pp.
- Humann, P. Deloach, N. (2003) Reef Fish Identification - Galapagos. New World Publication, Inc. Florida USA & Libri Mundi, Quito, Ecuador, 226 pp.
- IUCN (2010) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 April 2010.
- McCosker, J.E. Rosenblatt, R.H. (2010) The fishes of the Galápagos Archipelago: an update. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sc., Ser. 4, vol. 61, Suppl. II, no. 11: 167-195.
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This page should be cited as follows:
"Galapagos Species Database, Rypticus nigripinnis", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=7793. Accessed 15 December 2025.