Acanthemblemaria spinosa Metzelaar, 1919
Spinyhead blenny
Acanthemblemaria spinosa
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Chaenopsidae (Pike-, tube- and flagblennies)
Max. size:  3.1 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 12 m
Distribution:  Western Central Atlantic: Bahamas and Florida, USA to CuraƧao (Ref. 5521). Caribbean, including Antilles (Ref. 26938).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 20-22; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-16; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 21-25
Biology:  Inhabits small patch reefs surrounded by white sand (Ref. 5521). Observed primarily on dead surfaces of elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata), but significantly more males than females were found on live coral surfaces. Males occurred twice as frequently as females in the vacated constructed tubes of serpulid worms or vermetid mollusks that provided greater surface for egg deposition (Ref. 47880). Feed mainly on planktonic calanoid copepods (Ref. 94105).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 18 October 2007 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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