Species: Ekemblemaria nigra, Moth Blenny

Ekemblemaria nigra (Meek & Hildebrand, 1928)

Moth Blenny

Elongate compressed; head short, blunt; bones on snout and under eyes pitted & rough, but without spines or bony ridges; 1 eye-length palm-like cirrus over eye; a slender cirrus at front nostril; 1 row of teeth on each side of roof of mouth; dorsal fin XXVII, 11, without notch between spiny and soft parts; pelvic fins shorter than pectorals; pelvics I (internal), 2-3, inserted before pectoral base; all fin rays unbranched; no lateral line; no scales.

Head and body dark brown, head paler and mottled; a pair of large tan blotches covering preoperculum and operculum, that in front bordered before and behind by dark, white and blue edged lines; eye cirrus pale tan; pale bars on sides of mouth; lips and under chin with blue-grey tints; dorsal and anal fins dark anteriorly; outer parts at rear of dorsal and anal fins and all of tail and pectoral fins translucent reddish.

Reaches 7.1 cm.

Lives in worm tubes in boulders.

Depth range: 1-4 m.

SW Caribbean.