Emblemaria hypacanthus

Emblemaria hypacanthus is a species of marine fish from the family Chaenopsidae.

Description

Males feature a deep blue to blackish body and a very high, sail-like dorsal fin marked with dark patterns. Supraorbital cirri are slender and elongated. Females and non-displaying individuals display a more mottled brownish or yellowish-grey pattern for effective camouflage.

Distribution

Eastern Pacific Ocean: Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico.

Habitat

Inhabits rocky reefs and clear shallow waters. Lives in empty worm tubes, mollusk shells, or small holes in rock and rubble. Highly territorial and cryptic, individuals spend most of their time inside their retreats, with males emerging primarily to display or feed.