| Family: |
Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies), subfamily: Salariinae |
| Max. size: |
13 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 20 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: South Africa to Kiribati, north to Japan (Ref. 559), south to Rowley Shoals and the southern Great Barrier Reef. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 11-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-15; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 14-16; Vertebrae: 29-31. Diagnosis: Dorsal fin XI-XIII (usually XII), 13-15, deeply incised above last spine, first spine almost equal to second; anal fin II, 14-16 (usually 15); pectoral rays 15; pelvic fin I, 3; caudal fin procurrent rays 9-12. Vertebrae 10 + 19-20; last pleural rib on 11th, last epipleural rib on 15-19th vertebral centrum. Without scales and scalelike flaps. LL tubes 2-9 (usually 4-7), series ends below dorsal fin ray 7 or after. Lower lip smooth mesially, plicate laterally. Upper lip crenulae 32-45. Gill rakers 18-25. Cephalic sensory pore system complex; 1 pore behind nuchal flap. Cirri supraorbital 4-15, nasal 5-24; nuchal 32-44. Nuchal cirri in 4 groups with slightly expanded nuchal flap. Head reticulated with pale grey spots. Iris inner ring yellow, outer ring red. Body dark brown with 12 pale grey bars. Juvenile tan above, white to lavender below, with broad dark midlateral stripe, white eye bar, yellow spots on head underside and on operculum. No geographical variation recorded but secondary sexual dichromatism was found (Ref. 529, 90102). Three color pattern variation noted in Ref. 635. |
| Biology: |
Occur in algal ridge and ridge crests between surge channels of exposed seaward reefs to a depth of about 3 m (Ref. 205, 58302). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Feed on algae and associated minute invertebrates like forams, ostracods, and gastropods. 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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