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Species: Starksia guttata, Spotted Blenny

All Families:   All Genera:   All Species:

pale + irregular dark spots, larger above
Y shaped pale area behind eye +/- spots
belly & lower head - no dark spots
lips not barred

Starksia guttata (Fowler, 1931)

Spotted Blenny

Body elongate, compressed; bluntly pointed head; eye, nostril and nape cirri unbranched; dorsal fin XXI (XX-XXII), 8 (8-9), 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 usually 14; pelvic fins I (internal), 2, inserted before pectoral base; all fin rays unbranched; lateral line continuous, front section arched, rear section straight, 17-18 (15-18) + 21 (20-22) scales; belly naked; smooth scales on rear of body.

Pale; body with irregular dark brown spots that are larger above than below; lower head and belly without small dark spots; a broad pale stripe behind eye extends as a Y onto operculum, sometimes with dark spots on that area; lips without black bars; no dark bar on pectoral base; dorsal, anal and tail fins strongly marked with rows of brown to reddish spots.

Reaches 4.6 cm.

Found in eroded rock and coral.

Depth range: 5-45 m.

The SE Caribbean.


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore
  • Inshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Bottom
Habitat
  • Reef only
  • Rocks
  • Corals
  • Reef (rock/coral/oyster)
  • Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
FishBase Habitat
  • Reef Associated
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • Data
Diet
  • Data
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
  • Mobile benthic worms
  • Sessile worms
Egg Type
  • Data
  • Live birth
  • Pelagic larva
Global Endemism
  • All species
  • Greater Caribbean endemic
  • West Atlantic Endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Antilles endemic
  • GC endemic
  • Island (s)
  • Island (s) only
  • All species
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Equatorial (0-10N, Costa Rica / Venezuela)
IUCN Red List
  • Least concern
  • Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 4.6
Depth Range Min
  • 5
Depth Range Max
  • 45