Malacoctenus macropus (Poey 1868)

Diagnosis: The modal fin-ray count of D-XXI,9-10 A-II,20 and P-15 indicates Malacoctenus macropus. This fin-ray count falls within the range for M. erdmani, M. gilli, M. aurolineatus, L. bucciferus, and L. haitiensis. (DNA) Ecology: Rosy blennies are the most common labrisomid in the Caribbean and are found in large numbers in all shallow clear-water habitats. They are small, only one or two inches long, and especially abundant in the mixed coral, rubble, sand, and seagrass areas that occupy large areas of hard-bottom shoreline in the region. The species ranges throughout the Caribbean, as well as Bermuda, Florida, and the Gulf of Mexico, but not NE Venezuela or Brazil and its offshore islands. Their larvae are among the ten most commonly collected reef fish larvae and occur in the vast majority of nightlight and plankton-tow collections. Description: Pre-transitional larvae: Body long, narrow, and thin with a large round eye, pointed snout, and relatively small terminal mouth. Long continuous dorsal and anal fins with a short and narrow caudal peduncle. Pectoral fins long, reaching past the vent, and pelvic fins long and thread-like. On the head there are either a pair of large side-by-side melanophores or a single slightly off-center melanophore overlying the midbrain lobes (about a third of larvae with the single spot). The paired spots are often not widely spaced (about a pupil-width apart). Occasionally there are three or four spots, rarely up to six, but typically all are clustered over the midbrain lobes, behind the level of the rear edge of the orbit (nearing transition, one or a few additional small pseudolarval spots can develop on the side of the head and anteriorly). There is a cheek melanophore on each side. There are no melanophores along the base of the dorsal or caudal fins. Along the ventral midline there are notably no melanophores at the isthmus or at the pelvic-fin base. An occasional variant (including about half from one large collection) can have a melanophore along the dorsal midline of the caudal peduncle or at the base of one or a few dorsal-fin soft rays and/or on the side of the body just above the rear anal fin (very rarely a spot or two at the base of the caudal-fin rays). Along the anal fin there is a melanophore at the base of each anal-fin soft ray (and sometimes the second spine), usually sparing the last ray, followed by two to four melanophores spaced out along the ventral midline of the caudal peduncle (occasionally one or none; if one, it is most often placed half-way to the procurrent caudal-fin rays). Internal melanophores comprise only the basic complement: the nuchal midline, otic capsule, and overlying the abdominal organs. Transitional stage: M. macropus larvae in transition develop patches of small surface melanophores over the head, including a short bar down from the orbital rim at 5:30 o'clock and an eye-stripe from the orbital rim to the anterior third of the maxilla. In addition, the melanophores on the lower pectoral-fin base form a short line slanting down and back from under the operculum or, sometimes, a wider horizontal band across the lower fin base. Transitional larvae also sometimes develop a few additional small pseudo-larval melanophores over the midbrain lobes and transitional juveniles often show multiple satellite pseudo-larval melanophores that resemble fragmentation of the large larval melanophores. Fine metamorphic melanophores later extend onto the body forming either complex reticulations in the shape of rows of irregular vertical ovals or uniform shading, typically denser on the upper body. Notably, the long cirri that develop on each side of the head, on the nape, over the eye, and over the nasal tube are single filaments. Juveniles: M. macropus juveniles have highly variable marking patterns: most often a bicolor pattern of dark above, light below, but often uniformly-shaded or occasionally even prominently barred. Their long single cirri (at the nape, over the eye, and at the nasal tube) on each side are diagnostic. Analogues: Larval M. macropus (and M. erdmani) can be separated from their congeners by their light markings, i.e. the absence of melanophores along the dorsal and caudal-fin bases, none along the anterior ventral midline forward of the anal fin, and fewer than 5 melanophores on top of the head with bare forebrain lobes, i.e. spots only over the midbrain optic lobes and none over the forebrain lobes (between the eyes). M. gilli larvae can appear similar, but have a deep melanophore at the pelvic-fin insertion (and typically additional head melanophores and only 20 dorsal-fin spines). M. aurolineatus larvae can have few melanophores on the head, but have additional melanophores along the dorsal and caudal-fin bases and at the isthmus and pelvic-fin insertion. Larval M. erdmani can be very similar to larval M. macropus in size, shape, and markings. Since M. erdmani larvae seem to always have a side-by-side pair of head melanophores, the identification problem only applies to M. macropus larvae with a pair of head melanophores, more than half of the specimens in most samples. The arrangement of melanophores on the ventral midline of the caudal peduncle differs: M. macropus usually have two to four melanophores spaced out along the caudal peduncle after the last fin ray (if one, it is most often placed half-way to the procurrent caudal-fin rays), while M. erdmani larvae usually have a single melanophore very close to the last fin ray, often slightly more prominent than the preceding anal-fin row (occasionally two, then the two species overlap). Since most M. macropus also have more anal-fin rays than M. erdmani, the total number of melanophores in the ventral row is typically two or three more in M. macropus (often 21 vs. 18). Fin-ray counts are generally different and helpful for separation, however there is some overlap requiring DNA sequencing for definitive identification of larvae within the shared range. The D-XXI,9 A-II,18-19 P-16 combination occurs in more than half of M. erdmani individuals, and is rare in M. macropus (especially the 18 anal-fin soft rays). Certain counts are indicative of M. erdmani: 29 total dorsal-fin elements, i.e. 20 dorsal-fin spines or 21 with only 8 dorsal-fin rays (rare, and below Springer's reported range, for M. macropus) and the frequent combination of 18 anal-fin soft rays and 16 pectoral-fin rays (characteristic of M. erdmani and rare for M. macropus). Late larvae also diverge in the relative length of their dorsal-fin spines: in M. macropus the first spine is about the same length (or less) as the third-to-last spine, while in M. erdmani the first spine is distinctly longer than the third-to-last spine. Early transitional M. macropus larvae are distinguished by fin-ray counts, persistent larval melanophores, and their metamorphic melanophore pattern, i.e. the combination of the 5:30 o'clock bar, an eye stripe to the front of the maxilla, and a short line across the pectoral-fin base from under the operculum (two patches in M. erdmani). Transitional larvae develop single cirri on each side of the nape and over the eye, while congeners, including M. erdmani, develop multiple cirri when the new cirri are medium-length. During transition, M. macropus diverge from their congeners in the dorsal-fin outline, with the last several spines long, often longer than the first spine vs. a particularly short third-to-last spine in the other species (in this feature, M. macropus resemble Labrisomus juveniles, although in all other respects, they are typical Malacoctenus). Juvenile (and adult) M. macropus have a variety of marking patterns, from uniformly shaded (white or rosy) and speckled, to bicolor (dark above, light below), or even prominently barred, and are best distinguished by the long single cirri extending from the nasal tube, eye, and nape vs. multiple, often bushy, sets of cirri on congeners. When barred, the bars do not extend over the anal fin and the two bars under the last dorsal-fin spines meet on the body to form a prominent V or Y.

No conspicuous spots or ocelli. It is the only member of its genus that does not have a conspicuous color pattern (Ref. 26938). Female with irregular brown blotches dorsally on body, uniformly speckled with small whitish spots, the dorsal fin with many small dark reddish spots; postorbital head and body of males covered with small red spots and blotches; no dark spots in dorsal fin (Ref. 13442).

Dorsal spines (total): 21 - 22; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 20 - 21

Occurs in a wide variety of shoreline habitats and patch reefs (Ref. 9710). Found in sponge beds in shallow waters and grassy areas (Ref. 26938).

aquarium: commercial

Malacoctenus macropus, the Rosy blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny native to the Atlantic Ocean including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea from southern Florida and the Bahamas to the northern coast of South America. This species inhabits a wide range of habitats including patch reefs, seagrass beds and sponge beds. It can be found at depths of from near the surface to 8 metres (26 ft) though it is more rarely found deeper than 2 metres (6.6 ft). This species can reach a length of 5.5 centimetres (2.2 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.

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Malacoctenus macropus Malacoctenus generoko animalia da. Arrainen barruko Labrisomidae familian sailkatzen da.