Protemblemaria punctata

Species infomation

Distinctive features:

1. Broad white band behind eye but can seem faint.
2. Red and orange spots around eye.
3. Body with large orange and red spots.

Physical description:

2 heavily btanched, bushy cirri over each eye. Nasal cirri branched. Parallel, fleshy ridges on nape.

Colouration:

Iris red with white and blue stripes. Red and blue stripes and dots around eye. Colour varies, can be green, orange, red, light brown or dark brown. Broad white stripe, often with dark-margins, behind eye reaches just past midway to opercle edge. Cirri either white or translucent. Stripes along body, largest anteriorly and reach lower body which get shorter posteriorly and only reach midflank. Body with large orange and red spots which get smaller and more frequent at caudal base. Front of dorsal fin white and sometimes with black blotch. Vertical bands along dorsal fins.

Size:

Reaches 5.1 cm.

Habitat:

Found in empty shells found in both reefs and mangroves.

Notes:

Introduced population in Tampa bay, Florida.