Brazilian scientists have described a new species of blenny from the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago off northeastern Brazil.
Publishing the description of Scartella itajobi as part of a review of blennies from the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago in a recent issue of the journal Zootaxa, Carlos Rangel and Liana Mendes distinguish the new species from congeners in having a small blue spot on the second dorsal spine, tiny black spots on the head, and in the numbers of vertebrae, dorsal- and anal-fin rays.
The blenny was collected from shallow waters and tide pools, and is named after its emerald-green colour in life; the specific name comes from the Tupi word for green stone or emerald (ita = stone; jobi =green).
Two other species of blenny from the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Ophioblennius trinitatis and Entomacrodus vomerinus, are also briefly described in this study.
For more information, see the paper: Rangel, CA and LF Mendes (2009) Review of blenniid fishes from Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil, with description of a new species of Scartella (Teleostei: Blenniidae). Zootaxa 2006, pp. 51"61.