Emblemaria biocellata

Species infomation

Distinctive features:

1. Females with 2 black blotches between dorsal spines IV-VI.
2. Females with dark stripes in fins.
3. Dorsal fin with a hump-like appearance.

Physical description:

Simple eye and nasal cirri. First dorsal spine is shorter than the following, causing a hump-like appearance in the dorsal fin.
Males: orbital cirri ~2x length of eye diameter.
Females: orbital cirri ~1/2 length of eye diameter.

Colouration:

Preserved fish:
Orbital cirri without stripes 2 rows of blotches, one with 9 following length of upper body and another 8 along midflank.
Males: dark brown. Initial blotches along midflank reach lower body. Bar from eye to lower head. Dorsal fin initally dark but fades to transparent.
Females: lighter brown. Sets of 3 rings above the final blotches of the midflank. Dark spots on head, larger posteriorly. Dorsal fin with dark stripes leading diagonally across. 2 dark blotches between dorsal spines IV-VI. Tail fin with ~5 dark stripes. Anal fin with wide dark stripe which fades at ~3/4 of the fin.

Size:

Reaches 4.8 cm.

Habitat:

Found in sponge-rich areas.

Notes:

Known only from depths greater than 60 m.