Starksia splendens | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Blenniiformes |
Family: | Labrisomidae |
Genus: | Starksia |
Species: | S. splendens |
Binomial name | |
Starksia splendens | |
Starksia splendens, the splendid shy blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny which was described in 2018 from the Cayman Islands. It is one of the blackcheek shy blennies, in the Starksia lepicoelia species complex. This species complex is made up of a number of allopatric cryptic species in the Caribbean which are best separated using mtDNA and the extensive use of underwater photographs. [2]
Labrisomids are small blennioids (blennies), percomorph marine fish belonging to the family Labrisomidae. Found mostly in the tropical Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, the family contains about 110 species in 15 genera.
Starksia is a genus of labrisomid blennies native to the western Atlantic Ocean and the eastern Pacific Ocean. Their typical length is 2 cm (0.79 in) SL. The generic name honours the American ichthyologist Edwin Chapin Starks (1867-1932) of Stanford University for his work on Pacific coastal fishes. As a genus Starksia is distinguished from other labrisomids by their scaled bodies, two obvious soft rays in the pelvic fin and the male's have an intromittent organ which is near to or attached to the first spine of their anal fins, which is also somewhat separated from the fin.
Starksia culebrae or culebra blenny is a species of labrisomid blenny native the waters around the Caribbean islands of the Antilles.
Starksia fulva, known commonly as the yellow blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny native to the Pacific coast of the Americas from Costa Rica to Ecuador. It is found in shallow weedy or sandy habitats at depths of from 1 to 3 m. This species can reach a length of 4.5 cm (1.8 in) TL.
Starksia galapagensis, the Galapagos blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny endemic to the Galapagos Islands. It inhabits rocky reefs with plentiful weed-growth at depths of from 3 to 25 m. This species can reach a length of 4.5 cm (1.8 in) TL.
Starksia hassi, the ringed blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny native to the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It is and inhabitant of coral reefs and can be found at depths of from 6 to 175 m. This species can reach a length of 4 cm (1.6 in) TL.
Starksia hoesei, the hose blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny native to the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California where it is known to occur at depths of from 24 to 32 m. The specific name honours the ichthyologist Douglass F. Hoese of the Australian Museum in Sydney.
Starksia langi, the Lang's blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny native to the Caribbean coast of Central America from Belize to Panama. It is found in shallow waters of usually 3 m (9.8 ft) or less. This species reach a length of 1.7 cm (0.67 in) SL. It is named after Michael A. Lang, Director of the Smithsonian Marine Science Network and Smithsonian Science Diving Program. It is a prey of the lionfish.
Starksia lepidogaster, the scalybelly blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny endemic to the Tres Marias Islands off the Pacific coast of Mexico. It can be found from very shallow waters to a depth of 13 m (43 ft).
Starksia leucovitta, the whitesaddle blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny only known to occur on the reefs around Navassa Island in the Caribbean Sea where it can be found from near the surface to a depth of 30 m (98 ft). This species can reach a length of 2.5 cm (0.98 in) SL.
Starksia melasma, the black spot blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny known only from reefs around Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico and St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. This species can reach a length of 2.1 cm (0.83 in).
Starksia multilepis, the manyscaled blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny only known from reefs of the Atol das Rocas and Fernando de Noronha Island off the coast of Brazil where it is found at depths of about 1 m (3.3 ft). This species can reach a length of 2.2 cm (0.87 in) SL.
Starksia nanodes, the dwarf blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny native to coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea and the adjacent Atlantic Ocean. This species can reach a length of 2.2 cm (0.87 in) SL.
Starksia rava, the tawny blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny endemic to the waters around the island of Tobago. It is found inhabiting reefs at depths of from 6 to 11 metres. This species can reach a length of 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) SL.
Starksia sella, the darksaddle blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny endemic to the waters around the island of Tobago. It is an inhabitant of reefs, being found at depths of from 5 to 29 metres. This species can reach a length of 2.9 centimetres (1.1 in) SL.
Starksia smithvanizi, the brokenbar blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny native to the Caribbean Sea. It is found on reefs around islands at depths of from very shallow waters to 6 m (20 ft). This species can reach a length of 2 cm (0.79 in) SL. The specific name honours the ichthyologist William F. Smith-Vaniz.
Starksia spinipenis, the phallic blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny native to the Pacific coast of Mexico from the Gulf of California to Acapulco. It prefers shallow sandy areas with weed growth. This species can reach a length of 5 centimetres (2.0 in) TL. The specific name is a compound noun if spinis meaning "spine" and penis, a reference to the first spine in the anal fin of the males which is elongated and free of the fin membrane and is modified as a copulatory organ, a characteristic of the genus Starksia.
Starksia starcki, the key blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny native to the Caribbean Sea. It inhabits coral reefs, preferring surge channels at depths of from 6 to 19 m. This species can reach a length of 4 cm (1.6 in) TL. It is also found in the aquarium trade. The specific name honours the Walter A Starck II in recognition of his contributions to marine biology.
Starksia williamsi, the Williams's blenny is a species of labrisomid blenny known only from the Saba Bank in the Netherlands Antilles where it occurs at depths of from 15 to 28 m. It was previously known as Starksia lepicoelia, and is also closely related to Starksia weigti and Starksia robertsoni. It was named after Jeffrey T. Williams, a scientist from Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History known for his work on Starksia. This species can reach a length of 2.1 cm (0.83 in). The specific name honours the ichthyologist Jeffrey T. Williams of the National Museum of Natural History who has worked extensively on the blenniiform fishes.
Starksia y-lineata, the forked bar blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny native to reef environments of the Caribbean Sea. This species can reach a length of 1.9 cm (0.75 in) SL.