Species: Emblemaria vitta, Ribbon Blenny

Emblemaria vitta Williams, 2002

Ribbon Blenny

Body elongate; head relatively long, snout pointed; head without spines; 2 rough longitudinal ridges on snout; 1 unbranched broad, ribbon-like cirrus about twice eye-length over eye; 1 row of teeth on each side of roof of mouth; dorsal fin XVII-XX, 13, 1st spine of male not elongate, without skin flaps; anal fin II, 19; pelvics I (internal), inserted before pectoral base, fin longer than pectoral, with 2 obvious rays (3rd ray vestigial or <1/5 length of longest ray); pectoral fin 13; all fin rays unbranched; no lateral line; no scales.

Head and body pale brown with rows of small brown spots to entirely dark brown, rear half cream; front 1/3 of dorsal fin either black or pale brown with several longitudinal rows of small dark spots, a large orange blotch covering bases of spines I-IV, rear 1/3 pale; iris red, with an inner yellow ring; tail fin pale; anal fin dark at front 1/3, pale behind; pectorals clear, pelvics brown; eye cirri translucent.

Reaches 2.1 cm.

On sand and rubble at the base of cliffs or groove and spur formations.

Depth range: 10-32 m.

NW to E Caribbean.