Cocos Barnacle Blenny: acanthemblemaria atrata
Only inhabiting the coral reefs around Cocos Island.
Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Chaenopsidae
Description and Behavior: The Golfo-Dulce Poison Frog is a comparatively large poison frog, with adults measuring at 3.5 centimeters, females generally larger than males. Unlike other frogs, their shoulder blades aren't visible, and their back is sloping. Their back and most of their body is black, slightly shiny from the chemical pigment in its skin and with tiny bumps. Its legs are solid blue, and their sides a marbled blue and black. Their most noticeble feature, however, are two bright orange stripes running up their back and meeting in a 'V' at their nose. Females lay 10-25 eggs a week, and the male carries them around on his back when they hatch after 18 days for 2 months until they become small frogs. They are diurnal and terrestrial.
Threats: The Cocos Barnacle Blenny is classified as vulnerable. The increased frequency, duration, and strength of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is harming the Cocos Barnacle Blenny. The warmer waters and poor nutrion in the water for extended periods of time is hurting the population, and the small region of residence
Habitat: The Cocos Stargazer is a benthic substrate fish, meaning it is a bottom dwelling fish under the sand. It is endemic to Cocos Island in the Eastern Pacific Ocean in Costa Rica. On the sandy bottom, it lives from depths of 5-12 meters (16-39 feet).