Caribbean Flagfin Blenny

Diagnosis: The modal fin-ray count of D-XX,11 A-II,20 P-13 with 31 total dorsal-fin elements indicates the recently-described Emblemariopsis carib and some labrisomids of the 20-spined Labrisomus. The fin-ray count also broadly overlaps other Emblemariopsis species in the region. The presence of cryptic species with differing fin-ray counts in various regions requires that the precise locality and the fin-ray counts of sympatric chaenopsids (or DNA sequencing) be known for species-level identification among this large group of species. Many other Labrisomus and Malacoctenus overlap the fin-ray count, but they are larger and more heavily marked than Emblemariopsis larvae at comparable stages, have many more procurrent caudal-fin rays (6-10 vs 3-4), and have evenly spaced first dorsal-fin spines (vs. wide 3-4 gap). (DNA) Description: Body long, narrow, and thin with a large round eye, pointed snout, and medium terminal mouth. Long continuous dorsal and anal fins with a short and narrow caudal peduncle. Pectoral fins long, reaching past the vent, and pelvic fins long and thread-like, reaching about half-way to the vent. There are shallow melanophores only along the ventral midline; one at mid-isthmus and then the anal row starts at the second spine or first soft ray and marks the base of each anal-fin ray, followed by a single small melanophore on the ventral caudal peduncle. There are 22 total posterior ventral-midline melanophores. Internal melanophores occur only on the retroperitoneum, and can extend to the vent and be visible on the adjacent abdominal wall. Analogues: The labrisomids of Starksia also have only ventral midline melanophores, but a shorter anal row (18 or fewer total pvm). Other chaenopsid genera share the limited set of markings, but have different fin ray counts and relatively evenly-spaced first four dorsal-fin spines. Among congeners, E. ruetzleri larvae can be distinguished by their 14 pectoral-fin rays. hvlarv

This species is diagnosed by the following characters: total dorsal-fin elements 30-31; mode of D XX,11, A II,20, Pectoral 13; a short orbital and nasal cirrus on each side and unbranched, nasal cirrus longer than nasal tube; first 3 dorsal-fin spine bases close, first and second closest, widest gap between third and fourth; first spine longer or equal to second, third spine 1/2 to 3/4 of second and fourth spine shortest, forming notched dorsal fin outline in juveniles, females, and many mature males (males with the most extended first dorsal-fin spines can have a concave, but not notched, fin outline); mature males with greatly extended first dorsal-fin spine (when folded down straight reaching back to base of 8th-15th dorsal-fin spines) followed by a shorter second spine, a distal red-orange band outlined in white above and below on first few spinous membranes; females and immature males >10 mm SL with first and second dorsal-fin spines longer or equal to 12th spine (first two when folded down straight reaching back to 6th-7th spine base), first spine banded black and white; juveniles

Dorsal spines (total): 20; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 20

Depth range given by B. Victor (pers. comm. 10/18).

The Caribbean flagfin blenny (Emblemariopsis carib) is a species of chaenopsid blenny known from tropical reefs in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, in the Caribbean Sea. This species reaches a length of 1.5 centimetres (0.59 in) SL.