Paraclinus cingulatus
Coral Blenny
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Labrisomidae (Labrisomid Blennies)
Paraclinus
Paraclinus cingulatus (Coral Blenny)
Description
This species account was compiled from
FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version 04/2025.)
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Characters
Body shape: elongated. Common amongst Labrisomids: small, often elongate fishes; largest species about 20 cm standard length, most under 10 cm standard length. Head usually with cirri or fleshy flaps on anterior nostrils, eyes, and laterally on nape; gill membranes continuous with each other across posteroventral surface of head. Each jaw with an outer row of relatively large, canine-like or incisor-like teeth, often with patches of smaller teeth behind; teeth usually also present on vomer and often on palatines (roof of mouth). Dorsal and anal fins long, frequently highest anteriorly; dorsal-fin spines often flexible, outnumbering segmented dorsal-fin soft rays; 2 usually flexible spines in anal fin; pelvic fins inserted anterior to pectoral-fin bases, with 1 spine not visible externally; all fin rays, including those of caudal, unbranched (simple). Lateral-line tubes or canals varying from complete (extending entire length of body) to present only on anterior portion of body (absent in 1 species). Cycloid (smooth to touch) scales present at least posteriorly on body. Body coloration: varying from drab to brilliant hues; usually with irregular vertical bands, spots, or marbled pattern. Species distinguished by: pectoral-fin soft rays usually 12; no scales on pectoral-fin base; pelvic fin with 1 spine and 2 soft rays; last dorsal-fin element spinous; nuchal cirrus present on both sides of nape; no median fleshy barbel on chin; dorsal-fin elements consisting either of spines only or spines and 1 segmented ray (Ref.52855).
Distribution
Western Atlantic: southern Florida, USA and the Bahamas to the Greater Antilles and Honduras.
Habitat Associations
Marine. reef-associated.
Biology
Occurs in pockets of coral rubble on reefs or in tide pools.
Max length: 3.0 cm TL.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2007-10-18. Resilience: High.
References
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.
Williams, J.T. (2003) Labrisomidae. Labrisomids. p.1754-1760. In K.E. Carpenter (ed.) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Vol. 3: Bony fishes part 2 (Opistognathidae to Molidae), sea turtles and marine mammals.
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