Maya Hamlet

This species is distinguished from its congeners by the solid deep iridescent blue color and lack of black margins on fins. It is similarly colored as the blue hamlet, H. gemma, from Florida and the Yucatan; it is only distinguished by having dark black upper and lower margins on the caudal fin (Ref. 88139).

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 15; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 6 - 7; Vertebrae: 23

This species is often found among the mangrove roots that grow over shallow seagrassbeds. The colors of H. maya and the tunicate, Clavelina puerto-secensis, (growing on mangrove roots) are quite similar and perhaps this hamlet has evolved camouflage coloration against this tunicate. It has also been observed on several occasions that this species attacks small silversides (Jenkinsia lamprotaenia) which form diurnal aggregations among the mangrove roots (Ref. 88139).