Secretary blenny (Acanthemblemaria maria)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Acanthemblemaria maria
- Common name
- Secretary blenny
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Chaenopsidae
- Genus
- Acanthemblemaria
- Size
- 2–4 cm
- Depth
- 1–18 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, cryptic, territorial
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Eastern Pacific
Description
Acanthemblemaria maria reaches 4 cm. Tiny tubicolous blenny (Chaenopsidae) with very slim elongated beige-red mottled body, remarkable head with two large distinctive bushy orbital pompons (cirri) and prominent mouth. Lives in abandoned worm holes or old dead coral holes, only head sticks out, staring fixedly like a secretary (hence name). Lives from 1 to 18 m on Caribbean coral reefs. Territorially defends tube. Signature macro subject of specialized Caribbean dives (Bonaire, Curacao).
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Secretary blenny?
- Secretary blenny (Acanthemblemaria maria) reaches 2–4 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Secretary blenny?
- Secretary blenny is found between 1–18 m deep.
- Is the Secretary blenny dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Secretary blenny?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Secretary blenny?
- Found in: Caribbean, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Acanthemblemaria
Other species in the family Chaenopsidae
- Chaenopsis ocellata - Bluethroat pikeblenny
- Emblemariopsis bahamensis - Bahama blenny
- Stathmonotus stahli - Black blenny
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 279457)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2381369)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia