Malacoctenus lianae Carvalho-Filho, Almeida, Britto, Dias & Lima, 2020
Noronha scaly blenny

Family:  Labrisomidae (Labrisomids)
Max. size:  4.5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 10 m
Distribution:  Southwestern Atlantic: Brazil (Fernando de Noronha Archipelago).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 20-20; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 19-21. This species is distinguished from its southwestern Atlantic congeners by the following set of characters: D XX,11-12 (rarely XVIII, XIX or XXI,13); A II,19-21; pectoral rays 14-15 (rarely 13); length of third pelvic ray contained 2.0-2.5 times in second pelvic-fin ray; lateral-line scales 54-63 (exceptional 65-68); total nuchal cirri 10-16; presence of pre-dorsal and pre-pectoral scales, considerably smaller than scales on body; breast usually fully scaled on males, often naked on females; two pores (rarely one pore), extend from preopercular onto opercle. Colouration: body with 5-6 (rarely 7) saddle-like bars that do not extend on dorsal fin; two large and distinct somewhat square bright white blotches usually restricted to upper lip (Ref. 123106).
Biology:  Occurs in shallow reefs where it preys on small benthic invertebrates (Ref. 123106).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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