Saba Bank Blenny

description

Description. See Table 2. Dorsal spines XIX-XX, rarely XX (XIX in holotype); segmented dorsal rays 7 - 8, usually 8 (8); total dorsal elements (27); anal spines II; segmented anal rays 16 - 17, rarely 17 (16); dorsal segmented caudal-fin rays (7); ventral segmented caudal-fin rays (6); dorsal procurrent caudal-fin rays bimodal at 5 - 6 (6); ventral procurrent caudal-fin rays 5 - 6, rarely 6 (6); segmented pelvic-fin rays 2; pectoral-fin rays 11 - 13, usually 13 (13); vertebrae 9 - 10 + 22 = 31 - 32, rarely 31 (10 + 22 = 32); usually one pair of infraorbital pores at 3 o'clock (one specimen with all infraorbital pores unpaired); orbital cirri present; nape cirri present; anterior nostril cirri present; belly and pectoral-fin base completely scaled. Specimens examined ranging from 18.5 mm to 22.5 mm SL; HL 34 - 38 % SL; male genital-papilla length between two-thirds and three-fourths length of first anal spine, papilla 1.0 - 1.25 mm and free from spine.

Seven new species within western Atlantic Starksia atlantica, S. lepicoelia, and S. sluiteri (Teleostei, Labrisomidae), with comments on congruence of DNA barcodes and species

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A species of Starksia distinguished by the following combination of characters: orbital cirrus present; belly scaled; trunk pale to tan (dark orange / tan to bright orange in life), without distinct bars or other markings; lips without conspicuous white spotting, distinct banding, or dark bars-usually with lightly scattered melanophores in preserved specimens; total dorsal elements 27; total vertebrae usually 32; dorsal spines + anal soft rays + vertebrae modally 75.

Seven new species within western Atlantic Starksia atlantica, S. lepicoelia, and S. sluiteri (Teleostei, Labrisomidae), with comments on congruence of DNA barcodes and species

distribution

Distribution. Known only from Saba Bank, Netherland Antilles.

Seven new species within western Atlantic Starksia atlantica, S. lepicoelia, and S. sluiteri (Teleostei, Labrisomidae), with comments on congruence of DNA barcodes and species

etymology

Etymology. Named in honor of Jeffrey T. Williams, Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, in recognition of his work on blennioid fishes, including Starksia. Jeff's field-collecting efforts at Saba Bank, Tobago, and Turks and Caicos resulted in numerous specimens utilized in this study.

Seven new species within western Atlantic Starksia atlantica, S. lepicoelia, and S. sluiteri (Teleostei, Labrisomidae), with comments on congruence of DNA barcodes and species