Ecsenius pulcher (Murray 1887)

Oviparous, distinct pairing (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 12 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18 - 20; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 19 - 23; Vertebrae: 37 - 39

Almost exclusively benthic.

Almost exclusively benthic. 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).

Ecsenius pulcher (Murray)

Salarias pulcher Murray, 1887:47 [Manora Rocks, Karachi: lectotype, BMNH 1887.9.22.59–60, male].

Salarias phntasticus Boulenger, 1897:422 [typographical error; Mekran Coast, Persia; syntypes, BMNH 1897.9.22.20–21].

Salarias anomalus Regan, 1905:327 [Mekran Coast, Persian Gulf; syntypes, BMNH 1900.5.9.47–56].

Ecsenius (Ecsenius) pulcher.—Springer, 1971:20.

DESCRIPTION.—Dorsal fin XII–XIV (rarely XII or XIV), 18 to 20, moderately notched between spinous and segmented-ray portions. Anal fin II,19–23 (rarely 19, 20 or 23). Pectoral fin 13–15 (rarely 13 or 15). Segmented caudal-fin rays 13 or 14 (rarely 14). Vertebrae 10–12 (rarely 10 or 12) +26–28 (modally 26 or 27) = 37–39. Dentary incisor teeth (includes anterior canine teeth, which differ little, if at all, in appearance from incisors) 44–53; posterior dentary canines 0–2 (modally 1) on each side. Lateral line without pairs of pores, terminating posteriorly at a point between verticals from dorsal-fin spines 8 and 12 (rarely 8, 11, or 12). Cirrus present on posterior rim of anterior nostril; none on anterior rim.

Color Pattern: There are two strikingly different, non-sex linked color patterns found in preserved adult and young adult specimens. The most common pattern, based on museum specimens, is that in which the head and body are generally uniformly dark or dusky brown, sometimes paling slightly posteriorly on the body. There is a small, slightly darker spot (unpaired) on the snout between, and sometimes just posterior to, the posterior nostrils, two small, darker spots on the anterior orbital rim, and two (one at the one o’clock and another at the three o’clock positions) fine, short, diagonally upward dark lines on the postorbital margin. The spinous dorsal fin bears a broad dusky basal stripe that extends onto the segmented-ray portion of the fin, where it becomes suprabasal in position; extensions from the stripe may extend along the rays. The anal fin is almost uniformly pale dusky; the other fins are variably marked with dusky areas.

The other color pattern (banded or bicolor) is similar to the first, except that the posterior half of the body bears a pigmentless area with 5–8 dark barlike inclusions. The smallest specimen examined that had this pattern was 33 mm SL. Below about 20 mm SL, specimens may be uniformly dark or bear 7 or 8 pairs of diffusely dusky bands on each side.

Live Color (Plate 2: figures 2–4): There are three color phases, two of which correspond to the two preserved patterns, and a third (horizontally bicolored), which in preservative reverts to the uniformly colored phase (and thus may represent a transient, emotionally produced pattern).

The uniform phase in life is almost uniformly dark brownish purple with fine, faint yellow marks in the position of the dark marks at the one and three o’clock positions on the orbital margin (see preserved color pattern) and a bright yellow ring, which gives rise to 5 low, equally-spaced points, around the pupil.

Anteriorly, the banded (or “true” bicolored) phase is tinted similarly to the uniform phase, but the pigmentless (in preservative) areas surrounding the dark bands are bright yellow, the color extending onto and covering most of the anal fin, and tapering well out onto the caudal fin, where the basal yellow color becomes red-orange posteriorly. An additional color photograph of a specimen exhibiting the banded pattern was published by Axelrod and Emmens (1969:353). In the published illustration the yellow color does not change to red-orange posteriorly. The banded phase is comparable to the bicolored phases of E. frontalis, E. lividanalis, E. namiyei, and, particularly, E. bicolor. In E. bicolor, the pale (yellow-orange in life) area posteriorly may occasionally contain one or two faint, dusky bands.

The head and body of specimens of E. pulcher exhibiting the horizontally bicolored pattern are dark brown dorsal to the level of a line extending along the ventral margin of the orbit and midside of the body from the snout tip posteriorly to the caudal fin. Below this line the head and body are white. There are yellow markings in the orbital region that are similar to those of the other two patterns. Just posterior to the ventral half of the eye is a relatively large, dull orange-brown spot.

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM.—Sexual dimorphism is apparently limited primarily to the relative length of the caudal fin, which is greater in males (see Springer, 1971:26, fig. 11), and possibly the number of segmented dorsal-fin rays in specimens from the coasts of Iran to India (combined), which average significantly more in males, 19.3 versus 18.8 for females (t = 2.33; 0.05 > p > 0.02; df = 42). The averages for number of segmented dorsal-fin rays in the two sexes for specimens from the coast of Oman are not significantly different.

DISTRIBUTION.—This species is known only from the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman coast of Oman, and northwestern coast of the Indian subcontinent as far south as the Gulf of Kutch.

MATERIAL (* = new material).—Persian Gulf: USNM 201572 (1 specimen: 36 mm SL, cleared and stained), 201571 (1:33), 196505 (2:42, 52), 196506 (1:52), 265625* (1:70), BMNH 1900.5.9.47–56 (16:31–46, syntypes of Salarias anomalus), 1898.6.29.163 (1:57), 1932.2.18.43 (1:40). Gulf of Oman (Makran coast): BMNH 1899.5.8.94 (2:29, 34), 1897.9.22.20–21 (2:54, 58, syntypes of Salarias phntasticus [sic]). Oman: Muscat, BMNH 1912.11.26.1 (1:51), USNM 217728* (1:40); vicinity of Sur or Qalhat, ROM 40119* (3:37–56), 40121* (6:42–54), 40179* (4:34–54), 40184* (7:38–51), 40185* (1:53), 40186* (3:53–57), 40187* (1:38), 40188* (4:16–68), 40189* (10:15–57), 40190* (10:18–51), 40195* (1:46), 40199* (1:42), several other lots at ROM not included in my study. Pakistan: BMNH 1887.9.22.59–60 (2: each 44, lectotype and paralectotype of Salarias pulcher), USNM 201867 (3:39–58), 201816 (1:48), SMF 8239 (1:37). India: SMF 5120 (9:22–55); Rupan Coast, FMRI uncataloged (4:18–31, in three lots); Gulf of Kutch, USNM 201863 (1:17).

STIGMATURA GROUP

This species group comprises E. stigmatura, E. melarchus, E. midas, and E. lividanalis, which exhibit the following synapomorphy: a black spot extending anteriorly from the anus. The group also shares in having generally the lowest numbers of dentary incisor teeth (Table 4) and in having modally 14 segmented caudal-fin rays. Low numbers of teeth and modally 14 segmented caudal-fin rays are characteristic otherwise in Ecsenius only of the Bicolor Group. Although low tooth counts are found in some species among the other species groups of Ecsenius, no other species of blenniid (blennioid?) has more than modally 13 segmented caudal-fin rays, a number often found in other blennioid families. I therefore consider modally 14 rays to be a specialization in Ecsenius, but I am uncertain that it is a synapomorphy uniting the Stigmatura and Bicolor groups. Two of the four species of the Stigmatura group, for instance, share an apparent specialization, 14 pectoral-fin rays, only with species of the Pulcher Group, thus providing possibly contradictory evidence of relationship. (See also discussion under account of Pulcher Group.)

Within the Stigmatura Group, E. stigmatura and E. melarchus alone share in having a similar and unique color pattern (a complex character) on the head, 10 precaudal vertebrae, a modal pectoral-fin ray count of 14, and a deeply notched dorsal-fin. These similarities and the allopatric (almost parapatric) distributions of the two species, bias me strongly in favor of the hypothesis of a monophyletic group comprising E. stigmatura and E. melarchus.

Ecsenius lividanalis and E. midas share in having 11 precaudal vertebrae, a modal pectoral fin-ray count of 13, and the dorsal fin at most only slightly notched. They do not share any color-pattern characters to the exclusion of the the other two species, nor does either share a color-pattern character with one or both of the other two species to the exclusion of the remaining species. Over its entire, relatively restricted range, Ecsenius lividanalis is generally sympatric with the widely distributed E. midas, and the range of both these species variously includes portions of the ranges of the other two species in the Stigmatura Group (Figure 6). How E. lividanalis and E. midas relate to each other and to the stigmatura-melarchus clade in a cladogram is uncertain, but there are only three possibilities: first, that they form a monophyletic group, which would be the sister group of the stigmatura-melarchus clade; second and third, that one or the other is the sister group of the stigmatura-melarchus clade, and the remaining species is the sister group of all the others.

Ecsenius lividanalis Chapman and Schultz

Ecsenius lividanalis Chapman and Schultz, 1952:517 [Munda, New Georgia, Solomon Islands; holotype, USNM 144723].

Ecsenius (Ecsenius) lividinalis [sic].—Springer, 1971:32.

Ecsenius lividinalis [sic].—Springer, 1972:9.—McKinney and Springer, 1976:7.

DESCRIPTION.—Dorsal fin XI or XII,12–14 (rarely XI or 14), moderately notched between spinous and segmented ray portions (notch depth less than half length of first dorsal segmented ray). Anal fin II,13 or 14. Pectoral fin 13 or 14 (uncommonly 14). Segmented caudal-fin rays 13–15 (modally 14, commonly 13; note: segmentations of ventralmost segmented ray frequently discernible only with transmitted light, and specimen immersed in liquid). Vertebrae 11 + 18 or 19. Dentary incisor teeth 29 to 37 (includes anterior canine teeth, which differ little, if at all, in appearance from incisors); posterior dentary canines 1 on each side. Lateral line without pairs of pores, terminating posteriorly at point between verticals from dorsal-fin spines 8 and 11. Cirrus present on posterior rim of anterior nostril; none on anterior rim.

Preserved Color: In preservative, variably uniformly dark brown or darker brown anteriorly than posteriorly, and with ventral surface of head very pale. The two specimens from off Ujung Pandang, Sulawesi, were abruptly paler on the caudal peduncle (bicolor form). A black spot, usually with a pale margin, extends anteriorly from the anus. The dorsal and anal fins usually are almost entirely dusky brown, but dorsal fin pales distally and posteriorly. Other fins, and occasionally dorsal, mostly clear, variably with dark pigment distributed along rays.

Live and Fresh Colors (Plate 2: figures 5, 6): Underwater color photographs (Plate 2: figure 5) taken at Ujung Pandang show the head and body, except posterior one-sixth, to be uniformly dark brownish purple with faint bluish suffusions (region around anus not visible); iris of eye bright white. Posterior one-sixth of body, spinous dorsal fin, basal third of segmented-ray portion of dorsal fin, and base of caudal fin orange yellow. Anal fin dusky basally; other fins untinted. A freshly preserved specimen (Plate 2: figure 6) from the same locality retained the orange-yellow coloration, but the head and body were slate gray except ventrally, where they were white; the black spot with a white margin situated near the anus was evident. A photograph of a freshly dead specimen from Saparua, Moluccas (Plate 2: figure 6), had the head and body almost entirely orange yellow (head darker, almost brown, venter paler, almost yellow). A freshly dead specimen from Florida Island, Solomons, had the top and sides of the head dark brown, underside of head paler with metallic blue tint; body beneath spinous dorsal fin brown, grading into dusky yellow posteriorly; belly and ventrolateral portion of body yellow; basal halves of dorsal and anal fins yellow, distal portions untinted; lower two or three pectoral-fin rays black-tipped; scattered dark pigment along pectoral- and caudal-fin rays; pelvic fins creamy white. The pale-margined black spot in the region of the anus was present in both the Saparua and Florida islands specimens.

GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION.—Inadequate material is available to determine if such variation exists, but there are possible indications that specimens from the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Northern Territory, Australia, have more dentary incisors, and specimens from Saparua and Boeton, Indonesia, have fewer caudal vertebrae, than specimens from the other localities (Table 7).

Ecsenius (Ecsenius) pulcher (Murray)

Salarias pulcher Murray, 1887, p. 23 [Manora Rocks, Karachi].

Salarias phntasticus Boulenger, 1897, p. 422 [Mekran Coast, Persia].

Salarias anomalus Regan, 1905, p. 327 [Mekran Coast, Persian Gulf].

DESCRIPTION.—Dorsal spines 12–14 (usually 13); dorsal rays 18–20; segmented anal rays 19–23 (usually 21–22); pectoral rays 14–15 (usually 14); segmented caudal rays 13 (rarely 14 in specimens over 25 mm SL; when 14, lowermost ray has only one segmental line); dorsal procurrent caudal rays 7–8; ventral procurrent caudal rays 5–8 (usually 7–8); total caudal elements 26–29 (rarely 26); gill-rakers 13–17 (usually 14–15); pseudobranchial filaments 6–7; lower incisor teeth 44–53; lower jaw posterior canines 0–1 (rarely 0); total lower jaw posterior canines 0–2 (usually 2); upper incisor teeth 107–116 (three counts); precaudal vertebrae 11, caudal vertebrae 26–28; total vertebrae 37–39; epipleural ribs 13–14. Lateral line with no paired pores, extending to below level of 8th to 12th dorsal spine (usually 9th or 10th). Dorsal fin notched five-ninths to eight-ninths (rarely eight-ninths) length first dorsal ray. Third (innermost) pelvic ray varying from not obvious to obvious (usually not obvious). One cirrus on each anterior nostril, rarely forked.

Color pattern: There are two basic color patterns found in adult and young adult specimens. These two patterns are so strikingly different as to have been the basis for species descriptions, and the uninformed worker sorts collections containing both types into different lots. Chapman and Schultz (1952) believed that the two color patterns were sex linked, but I find that both sexes exhibit both types of color pattern.

The most common color pattern, based on museum specimens, is that in which the head and body are uniformly dark or dusky brown. Occasional specimens of this form are paler posteriorly on the body. A marking slightly darker than the ground color frequently occurs behind the eye. The underside of the head may also be slightly darker anteriorly.

In the other color pattern (Figure 8) the head and anterior half of the body are similar to that of the form described above, but the posterior half of the body bears separated pigmentless areas setting off dark vertical bars of different sizes and intensities. The number of dark bars ranges from 5 to 8 on each side of the body. The smallest specimen exhibiting this pattern was 32.9 mm SL.

Below about 20 mm SL, specimens may be uniformly dark or bear 7 or 8 pairs of diffuse vertical bands on each side and irregular dark marks on the head. Both uniform and banded small specimens occurred in the same collections.

In both adult type color patterns the spinous dorsal bears a dusky stripe basally and an immaculate area distally. The dusky stripe extends onto the soft dorsal where it becomes separated into a darker area suprabasally and a paler area basally. The distal portion of the rayed dorsal is mostly unmarked. The anal fin is uniformly pale dusky. The other fins are variably marked with immaculate and pale dusky areas.

A color photograph of a living specimen of E. pulcher, barred form, appears in Axelrod and Emmens (1969).

NOMENCLATURE.—Salarias phntasticus was not compared with any other species. I have examined the two syntypes and find them to be the striped form of E. pulcher. (An obvious typographical error is involved in the specific epithet and the name is usually spelled phantasticus.)

Salarias anomalus was not compared with any other species. I have examined the syntypes and find them to be the uniformly dark form of E. pulcher.

MATERIAL (localities abbreviated).—Persian Gulf: USNM 201572 (36.5, cleared and stained), 201571 (32.9), 196505 (2: 42.2–52.1), 196506 (52.3), BMNH 1900.5.9.47–56 (16: 31.4–46.3, syntypes of Salarias anomalus), 1898.6.29.163 (57.4), 1932.2.18.43 (39.7); Gulf of Oman: BMNH 1912.11.26.1 (51.2), 1899.5. 8.94 (2: 28.7–34.0); Mekran Coast, Persia: BMNH 1897.9.22.20–21 (2: 54.5–57.9, syntypes of Salarias phntasticus); Karachi, Pakistan: BMNH 1887.9.22. 59–60 (2: 44.3–44.5, syntypes of Salarias pulcher), USNM 201867 (3: 38.9–58.0), 201816 (48.3), NFIS 8239 (37.3); Rupan Coast, India; FMRI uncataloged (4: 18.4–30.6, in two lots); Gulf of Kutch, India: USNM 201863 (16.6); India: NFIS 5120 (9: 21.7–54.6).

FICURE 8.—Graph showing relationship of nasal cirrus length to standard length in the two color pattern forms of Ecsenius frontalis from Israeli coastal waters and one of these forms from Ethiopian coastal waters.

Ecsenius pulcher és una espècie de peix de la família dels blènnids i de l'ordre dels perciformes.

Ecsenius pulcher, the Gulf blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny in the genus Ecsenius. It is found in the western Indian Ocean. Blennies in this species feed primarily off of plants, including benthic algae and weeds.

Ecsenius pulcher es una especie de pez de la familia Blenniidae en el orden de los Perciformes.

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Ecsenius pulcher Ecsenius generoko animalia da. Arrainen barruko Actinopterygii klasean sailkatzen da, Blenniidae familian.