Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 22, 2026

Starksia hassi

Starksia hassi, the ringed blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny native to the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It is and inhabitant of coral reefs and can be found at depths of from 6 to 175 m. This species can reach a length of 4 cm (1.6 in) TL.

Last revised
Jul 22, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
212 w
Citations
4
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Starksia hassi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Blenniiformes
Family: Labrisomidae
Genus: Starksia
Species:
S. hassi
Binomial name
Starksia hassi

Starksia hassi, the ringed blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny native to the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It is and inhabitant of coral reefs and can be found at depths of from 6 to 175 m (20 to 574 ft). This species can reach a length of 4 cm (1.6 in) TL.2

Starksia hassi can easily move within and below an sea anemone without being stung by its tentacles, and uses this property for self-defense. It normally rests within the anemone, and hides further into its tentacles when approached.1

The specific name honours the Austrian biologist and underwater diving pioneer Hans Hass (1919–2013) who was the leader of the expedition on which the type of this species was collected.3

References

References

  1. Williams, J.T. (2014). "Starksia hassi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014 e.T47144896A48396373. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T47144896A48396373.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Starksia hassi". FishBase. October 2013 version.
  3. Christopher Scharpf; Kenneth J. Lazara (10 November 2018). "Order BLENNIIFORMES: Families CLINIDAE, LABRISOMIDAE and CHAENOPSIDAE". ETYFish Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 4 May 2019.