A NEW SPECIES OF CHAENOPSID FISH, EMBLEMARIOPSIS-RUETZLERI, FROM THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN OFF BELIZE (BLENNIOIDEI) WITH NOTES ON ITS LIFE-HISTORY

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).