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Species: Acanthemblemaria rivasi, Spotjaw blenny

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head spines: v short, blunt, none at rear nape
eye cirrus simple, iris red
body - 3 rows dark blotches + 2 rows pale/white blotches
D XXI(XXI-XXII), small black spot at front
face + dense blue dots, long white stripe on cheek

Acanthemblemaria rivasi Stephens, 1970

Spotjaw blenny

Body elongate; short blunt head; very short blunt spines from snout back to join a rounded patch behind eyes, none on rear of nape; cirri on nostrils, over eyes (1 pair, unbranched), but not on nape; multiple rows of well-developed teeth on side of roof of mouth; dorsal fin XXI (XXI-XXII), 12.5 (11-13), a notch between spiny and soft parts; anal fin II, 22.5 (21-24); pelvics I (internal), 2-3, inserted before pectoral base; all fin rays unbranched; no lateral line; no scales.

Upper head and body greenish-brown; iris bright red, with an inner white ring; head brown, snout and mouth whitish, a few small  tiny blue dots on face and nape; a white stripe under eye along cheek to edge of opercle; body with 3 rows of 5-10 dark spots (along top & bottom profiles, and central flank), alternating with 1-2 rows of bright white blotches; a black spot between 1st 2 dorsal fin spines; pectoral base white.

Reaches 3.5 cm.

Lives in abandoned worm tubes in bottoms ranging from muddy rock to live massive corals.

Depth range: 1-33 m.

Southwest Caribbean.


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Salinity
  • Marine Only
  • Marine
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore Only
  • Inshore
Water Column Position
  • Bottom
Habitat
  • Reef only
  • Barnacles & worm tubes
  • Rocks
  • Corals
  • Reef (rock/coral/oyster)
  • Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
FishBase Habitat
  • Reef Associated
Feeding Group
  • Data
  • Carnivore
  • Planktivore
Diet
  • Data
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
  • Zooplankton
Egg Type
  • Data
  • Benthic
  • Pelagic larva
Global Endemism
  • West Atlantic Endemic
  • All species.
  • Greater Caribbean endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Continent
  • Caribbean endemic
  • Continental primarily
  • GC endemic
  • Island (s)
  • All species..
  • Continent + Island (s)
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Equatorial (0-10N, Costa Rica / Venezuela)
IUCN Red List
  • Listed
  • Least concern
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 3.5
Depth Range Min
  • 1
Depth Range Max
  • 33