Species: Starksia elongata, Elongate Blenny

Starksia elongata Gilbert, 1971

Elongate Blenny

Body elongate, compressed; bluntly pointed head; eye, nostril and nape cirri unbranched; dorsal fin XXI (XX-XXI), 8 (7-9), a notch between spines and rays; 1st anal spine of male long, free from rest of fin, modified as sexual organ, no ridge or fold along anal fin base; pectorals 14; pelvic fins I (internal), 2, inserted before pectoral base; all fin rays unbranched; lateral line continuous, front section arched, rear section straight, usually 17-18 + 21 (20-22) scales; belly naked; smooth scales on rear of body.

Pale grey-brown to reddish brown; body with 7 narrow dark bars separated by broad (twice as wide) interspaces, those bars extending onto bases of dorsal and anal fins; irregular white spots on the pale interspaces; an irregular dark stripe back from eye meets a dark blotch with a white spot in its center on operculum; tail fin base with 2 narrow dark blotches.

Reaches 3.2 cm.

Habitat coral formations and surge channels on windward reefs.

Depth range: 0-6 m.

The Bahamas to Brazil.