Browncheek Blenny

A. crockeri has a moderately elongated scaleless body with a rounded caudal fin. It has short blunt spines towards the front of the head. These spines have branching that extend into smaller branches; the height is slightly larger than the diameter of the eye. There is also one pair of thick cirri over the eyes and nostrils. The dorsal fin starts just above the center of the preoperculum. This species has strong conical teeth. The upper jaw consists of a single row of inward curved conical teeth; teeth are smaller alongside the jaw. The lower jaw is flattened and expands slightly farther than the upper part of the mouth. This mouth shape can be shared with other species in the Acanthemblemaria, such as hancocki. The lower teeth are flattened and parallel to a second row of teeth. A small band of teeth can also be found behind these teeth. The coloration of the A. crockeri is mostly brown and tan with vertical oval spotting that ranges from brown to reddish coloring. The head is lighter, ranging from yellow to orange. On both sexes the preoperacle is a red-brown oval which is surrounded by a black outline with surrounding white spots. Pectoral and pelvic fins have green-yellow coloration, while the vertical fins are brown-pink; the rays and spins are dusty pink. Pink-red spots can also be found along the caudal fin, dorsal rays, and posterior anal fin. …

Breeding season is from May to July and usually takes place in the Central Gulf, but can sometimes range into the southern portion. During breeding, males will court from their home range, where they spend most of their lifetime, while females deposit eggs. Breeding happens in the tubing habitat, to which males will then guard the eggs until they hatch 4–5 days later. The species is sexually dimorphic, meaning each sex exhibits distinguishing color, size, and structure. They perform rhythmic undulations that circulate water over their eggs. These larvae are then planktonic for 22 to 25 days. A.crockeri exhibits resource defense polygyny mating with male parental care. Studies have shown that females will prefer males that are larger; color did not play a role in mate preference. Discoveries have recently shown that lymphocystis disease is linked to the species; this was discovered by tumor-like growths and enlarged cells. Information is still developing, but studies have shown that it is more common in males and also more frequently in the second year and older groups; these infections could possibly coincide with combat injuries which lead to infection.