Acanthemblemaria aspera (Longley, 1927)
Roughhead blenny
Roughhead blenny
Acanthemblemaria aspera
photo by April Franks / Smithsonian Institution, NMNH, Div. of Fishes

Family:  Chaenopsidae (Pike-, tube- and flagblennies)
Max. size:  4 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: southeastern Florida (USA), Bahamas, and Yucatan, Mexico to the Greater Antilles and Panama. Antilles and western Caribbean (Ref. 26938).
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Almost always found in holes of corals. Feed on amphipods and copepods (Ref. 5521). Main diet of benthic harpacticoid copepods (Ref. 94105). Oviparous (Ref. 56066). Eggs are attached to the walls of the parent's shelter and are brooded by the male parent (Ref. 56066).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 18 October 2007 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Known from the Little Bahama, Great Bahama and Cay Sal Banks and from Hogsty Reef. Also Ref. 7251, 9761, 26080, 26340.


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