Species: Paraclinus fasciatus, Banded Blenny

Paraclinus fasciatus (Steindachner, 1876)

Banded Blenny

Elongate, snout bluntly pointed; no barbell on tip of chin; cirri on nostrils, a slender 1-4 pointed cirrus over each eye, a paddle-like cirrus with 3 points at tip on each side of nape; opercle with spiny projection; dorsal fin XXVIII-XXXI, flexible spines, deep notch between 3rd and 4th dorsal spines, front spines slightly elevated, 0 rays; anal fin II, 17-20; pectorals usually 13; pelvic fins I (internal), 2; all fin rays unbranched; 2-3 rows of scales on pectoral base; lateral line complete, continuous, arched over pectoral fin, 32-38 scales; smooth scales on rear of body.

Tan to grey-brown; a dark bar down from eye; irregular darker bars along body that extend onto dorsal and anal fins; a dark bar composed of 2 joined spots on base of tail fin; 0-4 ocelli on dorsal fin; nape cirri dark, especially in males.

Reaches 6.1 cm.

Lives in seagrass beds, rock, rubble and shallow reefs.

Depth range: 0-12 m, usually < 3 m.

Florida to the S Caribbean.

Note: Its Brazilian sister species is P. arcanus.