Which blenny is this ?

I took this one yesterday on about 40' south coast of Dominican Republic.

It looks a little bit like the spike blenny but not sure . Can some one confirm ?

Thanks

JA

I took this one yesterday on about 40' south coast of Dominican Republic.

 

It looks a little bit like the spike blenny but not sure . Can some one confirm ?

 

Thanks

 

JA

I think it's a female Emblemariopsis occidentalis (redspine blenny, see ReefNet's 4th edition DVD).

Note also that Emblemariopsis signifera, which is referred to as the "spikefin blenny" in Humann and DeLoach's 3rd edition book, is now called the "flagfin blenny" by the American Fisheries Society.

Les Wilk

I think it's a female Emblemariopsis occidentalis (redspine blenny, see ReefNet's 4th edition DVD).

 

Note also that Emblemariopsis signifera, which is referred to as the "spikefin blenny" in Humann and DeLoach's 3rd edition book, is now called the "flagfin blenny" by the American Fisheries Society.

 

Les Wilk

Thanks Les !

I will check the dvd , thanks for the clarification about the spikefin.

JA

I think it's male (blackened head with red on spines is a male display) and it would be one of the several species that are lumped in Emblemariopsis signifera. I am doing genetic studies on the group and there are several species that look very similar but have different DNA sequences- a very complex "cryptic" species story (if you can collect some in alcohol and send them to me it would be greatly appreciated!).

E. occidentalis males have pretty short first dorsal spines- but I have never seen a "real" one.

ben, coralreeffish.com

several species that are lumped in Emblemariopsis signifera. I am doing genetic studies on the group and there are several species that look very similar but have different DNA sequences

Hi Ben;

I hope you're able to come up with some visual cues for differentiating between the species. Sounds like revisions (and stronger loupes) may be in order for future editions of field guides.

Les

Very interesting Ben , thanks

I dive that place very often and the specimen in the pic was in a spot very easy to find ( although is the first time i saw it, is really small ) . Next time i will try to take a better photo ( hopefully the whole body ).

To collect it and put in alcohol will be harder for me . First , i'm not too happy with giving the poor guy his last cocktail and also i guess some kind of tool is need it to capture since he's living in a small hole .

Anyhow i will try to find some more of this guys and will let you know .

Regards

JA

JA- great shots by the way!

I know it would be sad to give him his last taste of alcohol, but he wasn't going to see the New Year anyway, these tiny blennies are very short-lived. They are lucky if they make it a few months- sort of live quick and reproduce fast (I know some people like that). Like the Kuna goby I recently described that spent more time as a larva (two months) than they lived as an adult (the "big" males were only two months old).

Ben