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Species: Emblemariopsis bahamensis, Blackhead blenny

All Families:   All Genera:   All Species:

head blunt; snout depressed, + ridges
no eye cirrus
D spines: I-III close, I slightly < II-III, V-X longer; shorter than rays
male: front 1/2 black + white dots
female: translucent; cheek - white dots
PC 13

Emblemariopsis bahamensis Stephens, 1961

Blackhead blenny

Body elongate; head blunt, snout depressed, with a pair of smooth bony ridges; 1 row of 5-9 teeth on each side of roof of mouth; no cirrus over eye; dorsal fin XX-XXI, 12-13,  first 3 spines closer together than remaining spines,1st spine shorter than 2nd and 3rd in both sexes,  spines V-X longest; spines not declining in size to rear of fin, spiny part of fin distinctly lower than soft part, without a notch between the two parts; anal fin II, 21; pectoral rays 13; pelvics I (internal), 3, inserted before pectoral base, much shorter than pectorals; all fin rays unbranched; no lateral line; no scales.

Male: head, front half of body and dorsal fin, and front half of base of anal fin black to dark brown, with white dots; light grey behind that. Female translucent; cheek & opercle with white spots; spinal column with alternating short dark and white dashes; a row of dark spots along top and bottom body profiles.

Reaches 3 cm.

Lives in sheltered patch-reefs.

Depth range: 1-13 m.

The Bahamas to the NE Caribbean.


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore
  • Inshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Bottom
Habitat
  • Rocks
  • Corals
  • Reef (rock/coral/oyster)
  • Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
  • Reef only
FishBase Habitat
  • Reef Associated
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • Planktivore
  • Data
Diet
  • Zooplankton
  • Data
  • Mobile benthic worms
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
Egg Type
  • Benthic
  • Pelagic larva
  • Data
Global Endemism
  • West Atlantic Endemic
  • All species.
  • Greater Caribbean endemic
Regional Endemism
  • GC endemic
  • Island (s) only
  • All species..
  • Island (s)
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
  • Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
IUCN Red List
  • Listed
  • Least concern
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 3
Depth Range Min
  • 1
Depth Range Max
  • 13