Species: Starksia lepicoelia, Blackcheek Blenny

Starksia lepicoelia Bohlke & Springer, 1961

Blackcheek Blenny

Body elongate, compressed; bluntly pointed head; eye, nostril and nape cirri unbranched; dorsal fin XX (XIX-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; anal fin II, 17 (16-18); pectorals 13 (13-14); pelvic fins I (internal), 2, inserted before pectoral base; all fin rays unbranched; lateral line continuous, front section arched, rear section straight, 15 (14-16) + 20 (20-21) scales; belly completely scaled to at least rear half scaled; smooth scales on rear of body.

Head and body grey-brown to red-brown, body sometimes with indistinct narrow pale bars; body scales each with a short dark bar; lower rear corner of preoperculum of male with a large dark blotch, with a pale spot or narrow pale bar angled down from eye; lips of fresh and preserved female with alternating dark and light areas, lips of preserved male with distinct dark bars or blotches; a row of small dark spots along the bases of the dorsal and anal fins; males with dusky outer parts of dorsal and anal fins, and sometimes with a row of small dark spots along outer part of anal fin.

Reaches 2.8 cm.

Lives in live coral areas, usually on dropoffs.

Depth range: 1-27 m.

The Bahamas and NE Caribbean.