Protemblemaria perla, the pearl blenny,[2] is a species of chaenopsid blenny.
| Protemblemaria perla | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Blenniiformes |
| Family: | Chaenopsidae |
| Genus: | Protemblemaria |
| Species: | P. perla
|
| Binomial name | |
| Protemblemaria perla Hastings, 2001
| |
Etymology
editThe specific name "perla", used as a noun in apposition, simultaneously refers to the pearly white bar-colouring on the body and to the Pearl Islands, where the three type specimens were collected.[2]
Description
editBased on the extremely limited sample available, males of this species are known to reach a maximum length of approximately 4.1 centimetres (1.6 in) SL while females are known to reach approximately 3 centimetres (1.2 in).[2] The blennies are primarily brown and yellow in colour, also displaying the aforementioned white stripes.[2] The eyes of the blenny possess pale irises with yellow or rusty lines stemming from the pupils, and pale blue dots underneath the eye sockets and around the jaws.[2] P. perla shares the radiating lines in its eyes with its sister species P. bicirrus and P. punctata, a trait Hastings describes as being possibly unique to members of Protemblemaria. As is typical of the genus, P. perla possesses fleshy ridges between the eyes and the snout.[2] Hastings theorizes that Protemblemaria perla is most closely related to its southern Caribbean sister taxon P. punctata.[2]
Distribution
editThe full extent of the distribution of Protemblemaria perla is uncertain, as it is only known from two male and a single female specimen collected from Isla del Rey, Pearl Islands, Panama, in the eastern central Pacific Ocean.[3]
References
edit- ^ Dominici-Arosemena, A.; Espinosa, H.; Hastings, P. (2010). "Protemblemaria perla". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T183732A8166563. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T183732A8166563.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Hastings, P.A. (2001). "Protemblemaria perla, a new species of tube blenny (Perciformes: Chaenopsidae) from the tropical eastern Pacific". Revista de Biología Tropical. 49 (Suppl. 1): 125–132.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Protemblemaria perla". FishBase. February 2013 version.