Caribbean blenny

📖 Overview

Caribbean blenny (Emblemaria caldwelli) is a ray-finned fish of the family Chaenopsidae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters in reef-associated environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 2.6 cm. With a trophic level of 3.2, it is a low-level carnivore, feeding on invertebrates and small organisms. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 21 - 23; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 17; Anal spines: 2. Species distinguished by: bases of first 3 anterior dorsal-fin spines not separated from remaining spines by a noticeable gap; first 3 dorsal-fin spines of males about same length as next 3 spines, spines not filamentous; dorsal-fin spines 21 to 23; segmented dorsal-fin rays 13 to 17; total dorsal-fin elements 30 to 38; pectoral-fin rays 14; 2 obvious segmented pelvic-fin rays (third ray vestigial or goes 5 or more times in length of longest); cirrus on eye arising from a single base, longer than eye diameter in males (and often in females); head smooth anteriorly; tip of lower jaw not projecting beyond tip of upper jaw and without fleshy projection; no stripe or series of dark blotches on head and body; one row of teeth on each palatine bone. Common amongst Chaenopsids: small elongate fishes; largest species about 12 cm SL, most under 5 cm SL. Head usually with cirri or fleshy flaps on anterior nostrils, eyes, and sometimes laterally on nape; gill membranes continuous with each other across posteroventral surface of head. Each jaw with canine-like or incisor-like teeth anteriorly; teeth usually also present on vomer and often on palatines (roof of mouth). Dorsal-fin spines flexible, usually outnumbering the segmented soft rays, spinous and segmented-rayed portions forming a single, continuous fin; 2 flexible spines in anal fin; pelvic fins inserted anterior to position of pectoral fins, with 1 spine not visible externally and only 2 or 3 segmented (soft) rays; all fin rays, including caudal-fin rays, unbranched (simple). Lateral line absent. Scales absent.: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Caribbean blenny is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated. Tropical Central Atlantic: Bahamas, Belize, Honduras and Jamaica.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 4 records indexed .

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