Blenniella leopardus (Fowler, 1904)
Leopard blenniella
photo by Springer, V.G./Williams, J.T.

Family:  Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies), subfamily: Salariinae
Max. size:  6 cm SL (male/unsexed); 5 cm SL (female)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 2 m
Distribution:  Eastern Indian Ocean: Andaman Islands to Bengkulu, Sumatra.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-20; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 19-22; Vertebrae: 37-38. Diagnosis: Dorsal fin XII-XIV, 17-20, notched between spinous and segmented-ray portions; anal fin II, 19-22; pectoral rays 13-15; pelvic fin I, 3; caudal fin, procurrent rays 10-14, segmented rays 12-13. Vertebrae 11-12 + 26-27. Orbital cirrus simple filamentous; nasal cirri short and palmate with 2-5 branches; nape with cirri bilaterally. Lateral line, continuous anterodorsally below dorsal spines from 7-8th to 10th, disconnected posteroventrally up to below dorsal spine 9th to 12-13th. Mandibular pores 5-6 Lips margin entire. Occipital crest absent but males have low fleshy median predorsal ridge (Ref. 9962). Body depth at anal-fin origin 5.7-6.8 in SL. Male back with dark brown saddles from dorsal base to middle of side, and midlaterally with a row of blue dashes. Female with dark vertical dark H-shaped bars and many spots posteriorly; dorsal and caudal fins spotted (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Specimens were collected from an inner portion of reef flat in small, irregular sand pool, between limestone outcrops with coral fragments, at 0.1 m (Ref. 9962). Adults are found in intertidal zone (Ref. 90102). Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive (Ref. 205), and are attached to the substrate via a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal (Ref. 94114). Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters (Ref. 94114).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 24 March 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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