Hypleurochilus multifilis (Girard, 1858)
Featherduster blenny
photo by Cox, C.D.

Family:  Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies), subfamily: Salariinae
Max. size:  10.2 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine
Distribution:  Western Central Atlantic: Texas, USA.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 17-17. Species distinguished by: pelvic fins with 1 spine and 3 soft rays; pectoral-fin soft rays usually 13 or 14; segmented anal-fin rays usually 17; segmented caudal-fin soft rays usually 13; dorsal fin not separated into 2 portions by deep notch (notch, when present, not reaching nearly to dorsal contour of body); dorsal-fin spines usually 12, the last easy to see; total dorsal-fin elements 25 to 30; preopercular sensory pore series with 5 or more pores at each position (northern Gulf of Mexico); an enlarged canine tooth present posteriorly on both sides of 1 or both jaws (sometimes absent on 1 side); no teeth on vomer; caudal fin uniformly pigmented or mottled with dark spots; gill openings not continuous, each restricted to side of head, extending ventrally to about midlevel of pectoral-fin base or further (may extend completely around lower side of head and form common opening with gill opening of opposite side); cirri present only on eyes; ventral edge of upper lip smooth; lateral line never consisting of 2 disconnected, overlapping portions. Common amongst Blenniids: small, slender fishes, largest species to about 13 cm SL, most under 7.5 cm SL. Eyes high on sides of head; mouth ventral, upper jaw not protractile. A single row of incisor-like teeth in each jaw and often an enlarged canine-like tooth posteriorly on each side of lower jaw and sometimes upper jaw; no teeth on palatines. Dorsal and anal fins long, their spines usually flexible; dorsal fin with fewer spines than segmented (soft) rays; 2 spines in anal fin, scarcely differentiated from the segmented rays, the first not visible in females, both often supporting fleshy, bulbous, rugose swellings at their tips in males; pelvic fins inserted anterior to base of pectoral fins, with 1 spine (not visible) and segmented rays; all segmented fin rays, except those of caudal fin, unbranched (simple), caudal-fin rays of adults branched. All species lack scales (Ref.52855).
Biology:  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: 11 August 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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