Animalia Life

Starksia lepicoelia
FAMILY
Labrisomidae
TAXONOMY
Starksia lepicoelia Bцhlke and Springer, 1961, Green Cay, Bahamas.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
Spanish: Sapito carinegro.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
May reach a maximum length of 1.4 in (35 mm). The blackcheek blenny can be distinguished from other Atlantic Starksia by the presence of a black spot covering most of the cheek in mature males, a completely scaled belly, and male genital papilla entirely separate from the first anal fin spine.
DISTRIBUTION
May be found on coral reefs from the Bahamas and throughout the Caribbean.
HABITAT
Coral reefs at depths of 26–66 ft (8–20 m).
BEHAVIOR
Secretive and rarely seen underwater.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Predatory on small benthic invertebrates.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Mature females have well-developed ova in the ovaries, and the males have an intromittent organ, but the presence of embryos in a female (viviparity) has not been documented. It seems likely that the species is oviparous, as no gravid female Atlantic blackcheek blenny has ever been found.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not listed by the IUCN.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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