Species: Hypleurochilus caudovittatus, Zebratail Blenny

Hypleurochilus caudovittatus Bath, 1994

Zebratail Blenny

Head large, blunt, front profile steep and rounded; body elongate, compressed; nostrils with a flap bearing 1-3 cirri; a single cirrus over eye, main shaft rounded, with 3-7 simple branches; mouth opens at front; top margin of top lip free, that margin discontinuous at front; jaw teeth are brush-like, with a large curved canine at rear of each jaw; gill membranes broadly fused on throat, gill opening ends at level of lower base of pectoral fin; dorsal fin XII-XIII, 14-15, with a distinct notch between spiny and soft parts; anal fin II, 16; pelvics I, 3; pectorals 14 rays; fin rays unbranched, except on tail fin; lateral line in 2 parts, 1st curved down behind end of pectoral, ends under last dorsal spines, 2nd from mid-flank to above ~middle of anal fin; no scales.

Body and fins dark grey-brown; a dark bluish spot on membrane between 1st 2 dorsal spines; tail fin white, with a black blotch on its base and 3-5 black bars.

Reaches 7 cm.

Lives in rubble on reefs and sand areas.

Depth range: 2-23 m.

W Florida.