| Family: |
Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies), subfamily: Salariinae |
| Max. size: |
10.2 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 8 m |
| Distribution: |
Indian Ocean: South Africa, Comoro Islands, Agalega Islands, Seychelles, Chagos Archipelago, Cocos-Keeling Islands, Christmas Islands, and the northern tip of Sumatra. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-14; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 15-15; Vertebrae: 30-30. Diagnosis: Dorsal fin XII, 14, membrane attached to caudal fin, with deep notch above last spine, first spine almost same or slightly higher than second; anal fin II, 15; pectoral rays 15; pelvic fin I, 4; caudal fin procurrent rays 11-14. Vertebrae 10 + 20. LL, without scales and scalelike flaps; LL tubes 0-3 (sometimes up to 5), canal ends below posterior to 9th dorsal ray, usually on caudal-fin base. Lower lip smooth mesially, plicate laterally. Upper lip crenulae 36-48. Gill rakers 24-30. Cephalic sensory pore system complex. Cirri, nuchal 50-64, supraorbital 17-48, nasal 11-37; nuchal cirri in 4 groups, where 2 or 3 groups are occasionally connected basally by a slightly notched frenum, usually dorsalmost groups overlap at middle of nape, ventralmost group on each side on expanded nuchal flaps. Body depth at anal-fin origin 3.0-3.8 in SL. Adult males with brown body; females greyish brown with red spots in life (Ref. 529, 90102). |
| Biology: |
Adults occur on rocky and coralline substrates at depths from near surface to 8 m (Ref. 529). 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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