Dm. Tyler et Jc. Tyler, A NEW SPECIES OF CHAENOPSID FISH, EMBLEMARIOPSIS-RUETZLERI, FROM THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN OFF BELIZE (BLENNIOIDEI) WITH NOTES ON ITS LIFE-HISTORY, Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 110(1), 1997, pp. 24-38
A new species of Emblemariopsis is described from the shallow waters a
round Carrie Bow Cay, Belize. Emblemariopsis ruetzleri differs from ot
her species of the genus in having a combination of 14 pectoral-fin ra
ys and a low supraorbital cirrus, whereas the other two species with 1
4 pectoral-fin rays (E. pricei and E. randalli) have no supraorbital c
irri. Sexually mature males of the new species are dark headed and liv
e in holes in coral (usually dead coral), whereas females and immature
males are pale and surface dwelling. The new species is diminutive, w
ith an average size of 14.5 mm SL for the 35 dark-headed and sexually
mature territorial males collected from holes (largest specimen 19.4 m
m SL).