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  • D dark front, 1st spine long, XIX
    body 6 bars; flank: series rows of dots
    wide space between nape cirri
    behind chin 4-7 pores
    Malacoctenus costaricanus, Costarican blenny
    D XIX
    A: 19
    LL 50-51
    scales before D & on pectoral base
  • male: rear back - 3 black blotches + white dots
    female: yellowish, diffuse bars, many white dots
    D XX
    Malacoctenus ebisui, Fishgod blenny
    behind chin 1-2 pores
    A 20
    LL 52-58
    scales before D, not on pectoral base
  • body: 4-5 dark bars
    female - mesh of lines on flank
    male - red below
    D XXI, 12
    Malacoctenus gigas, Sonora blenny
    behind chin 1-2 pores
    A 22-23
    LL 53-65
    scales on pectoral base, & bread & sometimes nape
  • body: bars
    flank: narrow stripes
    pelvic base: dark spot
    Malacoctenus hubbsi, Redside blenny
    under head usually barred
    male: lower 1/2 red
    behind chin 1-3 pores
    A 18-23
    LL 54-56
    +/- scales on pectoral base, none before D
  • female: many irregular blotches
    operculum: white-edged dark oval
    male: rear back - 3 black blotches
    behind chin 2 pores
    pectoral 15
    Malacoctenus margaritae, Margarita blenny
    A 20-23; LL 51-56
    belly & flank scales same size
    scales before D & on pectoral base
  • female: many irregular blotches
    operculum: white-edged dark oval
    male: rear back - 3 black blotches
    behind chin 1 pore
    pectoral 15
    Malacoctenus mexicanus, Mexican blenny
    A 20-23; LL 51-56
    belly & flank scales same size
    scales before D & on pectoral base
  • body: bars
    flank stripes
    under head spotted
    behind chin 5-6 pores
    A 18-23
    LL 51-53
    Malacoctenus polyporosus, Porous blenny
    pelvic base dark spot
    male red below
    scales: pectoral base +/-, none before D
  • behind eye: 2 dark spots
    throat & belly spotted
    border front D: dark blotch
    behind chin 7-11 pores
    A 22
    LL 54-58
    Malacoctenus sudensis, Southern blenny
    scales before D, not on pectoral base
  • just behind eye - black spot
    lower head & body: many dark spots
    A 18-20
    Malacoctenus tetranemus, Speckled blenny, Throat-spotted blenny
    LL 53-61
    male: scales on breast
    no scales on nape, +/- on pectoral base
  • lower body ~ 6 brown lines
    flank - central stripe
    Malacoctenus zacae, Zaca blenny
    pectoral & belly yellow
    A 18-20
    LL 50-55
    no scales before D or on pectoral base
  • 2 dark blotches behind eye
    throat & belly: dark spots
    front D: outer edge not dark
    behind chin 4-5 pores
    Malacoctenus zonifer, Glossy blenny
    A 19
    LL 54-58
    scales before D, not on pectoral base
  • throat & chest - dark bars
    Malacoctenus zonogaster, Belted blenny, Spot-belly blenny
    upper operculum -dark blotch
    A 20-22
    LL 57-64
    +/- scales before D, none on pectoral base