Laiphognathus longispinis Murase 2007

This species is distinguished and compared from its congener L. multimaculatus by the following characters: in mature males, 3 to 5 of the 6th-10th dorsal spines elongated (vs. none); anterior and posterior nostrils with 3 and 2 cirri, respectively (vs. 2 or 3 on both nostrils); longest posterior nasal cirrus elongate, 68.4-166.7% of orbit diameter (vs. 18.8-100%); in mature males at least, the lower-lip flap is usually separated into anterior and posterior parts (vs. usually continuous); total dorsal-fin rays 31-34 (vs. 29-32); segmented anal-fin rays 21-24 (vs. 19-22); total vertebrae 38-40 (vs. 35-39); spots on cheek absent (vs. small spots present); usually large, dusky brown body spots forming diagonal bands anteriorly (vs. small spots scattered anteriorly); pectoral-fin base with distinct black spot both centrally and dorsally (vs. inconspicuous spots over entire fin base); belly with elongate black spot, from pelvic-fin base to before anus in mature males and females (wider in males) (vs. circular spot just before anus in males only); in males, abdomen becoming reddish (vs. abdomen not reddish); lips never reddish (becoming reddish at least in mature males) (Ref. 76746).

Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20 - 23; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 21 - 24; Vertebrae: 38 - 40

Adults are reported to occur on rocky slope area and small individuals are known to occur around sea urchins. Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive (Ref. 205), and are attached to the substrate via a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal (Ref. 94114). They lay eggs in a nest, using holes made by invertebrates on massive corals. The well-developed eggs are taken into the mouth and squeezed by the males and the newly hatched larvae swim out of its mouth. Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters (Ref. 94114). Spawning season extends from the middle of May to the beginning of October in Kinko Bay, Japan (Ref. 76746).