Species: Starksia starcki, Key Blenny

Starksia starcki Gilbert, 1971

Key Blenny

Body elongate, compressed; bluntly pointed head; eye, nostril and nape cirri unbranched; dorsal fin XXI (XX-XXI), 9 (8-9), a notch between spines and rays; anal fin II, 18-19, 1st anal spine of male long, free from rest of fin, modified as sexual organ, no ridge or fold along anal fin base; pectorals 13; pelvic fins I (internal), 2, inserted before pectoral base; all fin rays unbranched; lateral line continuous, front section arched, rear section straight, 15 (14-15) + 21 (21-22) scales; belly completely scaled; smooth scales on rear of body.

Orangish to pale tan; 2 dark spots immediately behind lower half of eye; body with 3 complete, widely separated strong, strongly contrasting dark bars at front (1st across nape and extending down onto operculum, 3rd across mid-belly) followed by either 5-6 irregular bars broken on mid-flank, sometimes by a horizontal stripe, those bars extending onto dorsal and anal fins; a large dark blotch on lower pectoral base.

Reaches 4 cm.

Lives in surge channels on reefs.

Depth range: 6-19 m.

Florida to the NW Caribbean.