Spikefin Blenny

Description

Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-13; Anal spines: 2. Species distinguished by: underside of head dark or pale, with a series of distinct, small dark spots extending posteriorly along ventral edge of opercle; first dorsal-fin spine 2 to 3 times length of third spine, distal margin appearing angular as it drops abruptly to the shorter third spine; segmented dorsal-fin rays 10 to 13; total dorsal-fin elements 30 to 38; pectoral-fin rays 13; supraorbital cirrus on each eye, shorter than eye diameter and arising from a single base; head smooth anteriorly, never spiny; tip of lower jaw not projecting beyond tip of upper jaw and without fleshy projection; one row of teeth on each palatine bone; no stripe or series of dark blotches on head and body; edge of opercle with series of small, round dark spots, or uniformly pigmented. 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.

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Bahamas to Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Habitat

Inhabits muddy bottoms.