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Species: Starksia species B, Southwest Blenny

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no eye cirrus
black blotches on pale network
large dark spot - end base D & A

Starksia species B

Southwest Blenny

Body elongate, compressed; bluntly pointed head; no eye cirri; nostril and nape cirri unbranched; dorsal fin XIX (XVIII-XX), 5-7, a notch between spines and rays; 1st anal spine of male long, free from rest of fin, modified as sexual organ; no ridge or fold along anal fin base; pectorals usually 13-14; pelvic fins I (internal), 2, inserted before pectoral base; all fin rays unbranched; lateral line continuous, front section arched, rear section straight; belly scaleless to rear 1/3 scaled; smooth scales on rear of body.

Probable colors: head and body pale brown, with irregular dark red-brown blotches in a network of thin pale lines, the upper blotches forming saddles on the upper back; dorsal fin spines situated above a back saddle with a red-brown spot on its base; a prominent ¾ eye-sized black spot on top (and sometimes bottom) of body extending onto bases of last soft dorsal (and anal) rays; dark bars under eye, dark blotches on cheek and behind eye.

Probable size ~2.1 cm.

Lives on reef flats and outer reefs in coral rich areas?

Depth range: 0-25 m?

SW Caribbean.

Note: One of the Starksia atlantica group of species.


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore
  • Inshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Bottom
Habitat
  • Reef only
  • Rocks
  • Corals
  • Reef (rock/coral/oyster)
  • Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
FishBase Habitat
  • Reef Associated
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • Data
Diet
  • Data
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
  • Mobile benthic worms
Egg Type
  • Data
  • Live birth
  • Pelagic larva
Global Endemism
  • All species
  • Greater Caribbean endemic
  • West Atlantic Endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Caribbean endemic
  • Continent
  • Continent + Island (s)
  • Continental primarily
  • GC endemic
  • Island (s)
  • All species
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Equatorial (0-10N, Costa Rica / Venezuela)
  • Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
IUCN Red List
  • Not evaluated / Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 2.1
Depth Range Min
  • 0
Depth Range Max
  • 25