Species: Paraclinus marmoratus, Marbled Blenny

Paraclinus marmoratus (Steindachner, 1876)

Marbled Blenny

Elongate, snout bluntly pointed; simple cirri on nostrils; cirrus on eyes consists of 1-4 slender, short filaments from a single base; a short flat, fringed cirrus on each side of nape; opercle with 1-pointed spine that reaches under 3rd dorsal spine; dorsal fin XXVIII-XXX flexible spines, 1 ray, deep notch between 3rd and 4th dorsal spines, first 2 spines greatly elevated, forming a rectangular flap that is almost separated from main part of fin; anal fin II, 19-21; pectoral 12-14; pelvic fins with I (internal), 3; all fin rays unbranched; 2-4 rows of scales on pectoral base; lateral line complete, continuous, arched over pectoral fin, 35-40 scales; smooth scales on rear of body.

Tan to dark brown; body mottled with tan and white, with 6 dark bars that extend onto dorsal and anal fins; head mottled above, purplish brown below, a whitish bar angle back from eye to lower corner of operculum and pectoral base; rear of dorsal fin with 2 (0-4) ocelli, rear of anal fin with 1 (0-2); high front of dorsal fin often with narrow black and white stripes; pelvic, pectoral and tail fins each with 0-1 dark bars.

Reaches 7.8 cm.

Lives in sponges in seagrass beds and on shallow lagoonal reefs.

Depth range: 5-7 m.

The Gulf of Mexico to the S Caribbean.

Note: Its Brazilian sister species is P. spectator.