Entomacrodus nigricans
Pearl Blenny
Collection Details
Specimens
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Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Blenniidae (Combtooth Blennies)
Entomacrodus
Entomacrodus nigricans (Pearl 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.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
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Characters
Simple cirri on eyes and nape, separate dorsal fins, incomplete lateral line. Anterior profile of head nearly vertical to eye. Dorsal margin of upper lip free laterally but discontinuous over center of jaw. Lower lip with short, free lower margin. Anterior naris with raised margin and palmate cirrus. Posterior naris pore-like. Cirri on dorsal surface of eye number 1 to 11. Bony interorbital space slightly concave. Comblike jaw teeth slender, bluntly pointed. Moderately large, recurved canine tooth in corner of lower jaw. Teeth present on vomer. Gill rakers on first arch number 14 to 20. Gill membranes broadly connected but free of isthmus. Measurements (% SL): head length 22.1%–23.2%, snout length 5.5%–6.2%, eye diameter 3.5%–4.6%, interorbital width 2.5%–3.1%, gill opening length 7.4%–9.9%, body depth at pelvic insertion 18.5%–22.7%, caudal peduncle depth 8.7%–10.5%. Pectoral fin has 13 or 14 rays. Dorsal fin has 13 spines and 13 to 16 rays. Pelvic fin has 1 spine and 4 rays. Anal fin has 2 spines and 14 to 17 rays. Caudal fin has 13 segmented rays. Lateral line terminates under spiny dorsal fin. Vertebrae number 33 to 35.
Tan to light, slightly darker dorsally than ventrally, with six or six and one-half dark brown bars extending to ventral midline. Narrow light bands often subdivide bars, and interspaces between bands are often marked with white spots. Head is brown to dark brown, with dark spot posterior to eye and 7 to 10 dark stripes originating on upper lip and converging along ventral midline. Vertical fins are brown to dark brown, with dark spots and tan streaks on fin rays.
Distribution
Western Atlantic from southern Florida and Bermuda to Venezuela, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, and the Greater and Lesser Antilles.
Known from the Dry Tortugas and Campeche Bank, at East Triangles Reef, in the Gulf of Mexico.
Habitat Associations
Associated with rocky substrates from near the surface to one meter in depth.
Rocky substrates.
Biology
Maximum known size is 63 mm SL.
Mature males have fleshy rugosities on anal fin spines and first 1 to 4 rays.
Adults occur in intertidal areas (Ref. 31184), like tide pools, rocky slopes, and places where there are boulders on the bottom (Ref. 5521). Actively shuttle back and forth between rock-pools and air (Ref. 31184). They breathe air (Ref. 31184) and can remain out of water for up to 2 hours if kept moist (Ref. 51276). Feed mainly on algae (Ref. 13442). 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).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2007-10-18. Resilience: High (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial.
References
Longley and Hildebrand 1941 (as Salarichthys textiles)
Springer 1967
Randall 1996
Smith 1997
Smith-Vaniz et al. 1999
Williams 2002e
Randall, J.E. (1967) Food habits of reef fishes of the West Indies. Stud. Trop. Oceanogr. Miami 5:665-847.
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.
Lieske, E. and R. Myers (1994) Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
Randall, J.E. (1996) Caribbean reef fishes. Third Edition - revised and enlarged. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Ltd., Hong Kong. 3nd ed. 368 p.
Cervigón, F. (1994) Los peces marinos de Venezuela. Volume 3. Fundación Científica Los Roques, Caracas,Venezuela. 295 p.
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