Chasmodes saburrae
Florida Blenny
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Blenniidae (Combtooth Blennies)
Chasmodes
Chasmodes saburrae (Florida Blenny)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
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Characters
Gill slit restricted; 10 or 11 dorsal spines and 16 to 20 (usually 18 or 19) rays; lower jaw with prominent lip flaps; pelvic fin with 1 spine and 3 rays; anal fin with 2 spines and 17 to 20 (usually 18) rays; caudal fin with 10 to 13 (usually 11) segmented rays; dorsal profile of head moderately steep and convex; snout acute; upper lip with narrow free dorsal margin; anterior naris tubular with filamentous flap; cirrus on dorsal surface of eye simple; jaw teeth closely packed and broadly rounded; vomer and palatine lack teeth; gill membranes broadly joined to isthmus; gill rakers on first arch 12 to 14; measurements (% SL): head length 26.6%–31.6%, snout length 6.4%–8.3%, eye diameter 5.2%–7.6%, interorbital width 3.1%–3.9%, maxillary length 9.5%–12.3%, gill opening length 5%–7.1%, body depth at pelvic insertion 24.9%–28.4%, caudal peduncle depth 7.7%–9.5%; pectoral fin with 11 to 13 (usually 12) rays
Color in life olivaceous or brown with light stripes or mottling; iridescent blue spot on membrane between first and second dorsal fin spines; streak from spot to about tenth spine
Distribution
Western Atlantic from Edgewater on the east coast of Florida to the Chandeleur Islands in the northern Gulf of Mexico
Habitat Associations
Sea-grass beds
Restricted to sea-grass beds (as opposed to oyster reefs where C. longimaxilla is found)
Biology
Food consists of annelids, amphipods, isopods, shrimps, and ray-finned fish larvae
Maximum known size is 80 mm SL
Adults are commonly found in clumps of oysters on mangrove roots and sea walls. Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive (Ref. 205), and are attached to the substrate via a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal (Ref. 94114). Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters (Ref. 94114).
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; guarders (nesters). Oviparous, distinct pairing (Ref. 205). Nests are found mostly in oyster shells (Ref. 58432).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2007-10-18. Resilience: High (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Phylogeny and Morphologically Similar Fishes
Differs from C. longimaxilla in habitat preference (sea-grass beds vs. oyster reefs)
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: of no interest.
References
Springer 1959a
Springer and Woodburn 1960
Williams 1983
Williams 2002e
Robins and Ray 1986
Boschung 1992
Smith 1997
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray (1986) A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p.
Carr, W.E.S. and C.A. Adams (1973) Food habits of juvenile marine fishes occupying seagrass beds in the estuarine zone near crystal river, Florida. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 102(3):511-540.
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