Blenniella interrupta (Bleeker, 1857)
Dashed-line blenny
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies), subfamily: Salariinae
Max. size:  6 cm SL (male/unsexed); 5.1 cm SL (female)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 2 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Taiwan to Indonesia and Efate, New Hebrides (Vanuatu).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-21; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 19-22; Vertebrae: 37-40. Dorsal fin XII-XIV, 18-21, notched between spinous and segmented-ray portions; anal fin II, 19-22; pectoral rays 12-15; pelvic fin I, 3. Vertebrae 11-12 + 26-28. Orbital cirrus simple filamentous; nasal cirri short and simple to palmate with 2-6 branches; nape with cirri. Lateral line, continuous anterodorsally below dorsal spines from 4th to 10th, disconnected posteroventrally up to below dorsal spine 7-8th to 12-13th. Mandibular pores 4-6 Lips margin entire. Occipital crest present only in males, and only 0.7 mm or lower. Meristic characters slightly vary geographically, increasing from north to south (Ref. 9962). Body depth at anal-fin origin 5.3-6.0 in SL. Male grey to dark brown with longitudinal rows of blue dashes. Female pale grey with dark horizontal dashes and vertical dark A/H-shaped bars; dorsal and caudal fins spotted (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Found solitary or groups (Ref. 90102) near-shore rocky areas, including tide pools and at depths usually less than 1 meter (Ref. 9962). 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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