Omobranchus mekranensis (Regan 1905)

Oviparous, distinct pairing (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20 - 21; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 22 - 23

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).

Omobranchus mekranensis (Regan)

Petroscirtes mekranensis Regan, 1905:328 [Jask, Mekran Coast].

Petroscirtes cristatus Zugmayer, 1913:20 [Ormara].

DESCRIPTION (see also Table 5).—Dorsal fin XI–XII (XI in one of 13 specimens), 20–21 = 32–33; anal fin II, 22–23; one or both anal-fin spines of males not discernible externally; segmented caudal-fin rays 13–14 (14 in one of 13 specimens); dorsal + ventral procurrent caudal-fin rays 12–14; vertebrae 11 + 28–29 = 39–40; epipleural ribs 17–23; prenasal pores present; interorbital pores 2; circumorbital pores 8; lateral-line tubes 6–7; lateral-line tubes extending posteriorly to below level of dorsal-fin spine 9–11; gill opening restricted to area dorsal to level of dorsalmost pectoral-fin ray; lower-lip flap present; circumorbital bones 5; lower jaw teeth 22–27; upper jaw teeth 18–23 (Figure 44); fleshy bladelike crest present on top of head of both sexes.

COLOR PATTERN.—Males: Head: Three narrow, dark bands radiating from eye on ventral two-thirds of head; anterior band flared ventrally, extending from anteroventral edge of orbit across mouth, just anterior to angle of jaws, to ventral midline of head, where it joins corresponding band of opposite side; 2nd band extending ventrally and slightly posteriorly from ventral margin of orbit, flaring sharply midventrally on cheek and terminating just before reaching ventral midline of head; 3rd band extending posteroventrally from posterior or posteroventral margin of orbit, becoming faint or disjunct ventrally on cheek, recommencing as broader, darker continuation, which is displaced slightly posteriorly, and continuing across branchiostegal membranes onto prepelvic area, where it joins corresponding band of opposite side. Moderately narrow, dark line (4th band) arises from dark blotch on upper end of operculum and runs posteroventrally across branchiostegal membranes, where it joins broad, dark band on fleshy pectoral-fin base. Series of narrow, dark spots, dashes, or lines present in each pale space separating dark head bands; each series parallel to and midway between adjacent head bands; each series except last continuous on underside of head with corresponding series of opposite side. Distinct, vertically oriented, dark, oval spot approximately one-half to two-thirds size of eye present just posterior to dorsal two-thirds of eye. Patch of intensely dark melanophores present on free opercular membrane margin; anterior edge of margin sometimes darkened to form narrow line running into upper end of band on fleshy pectoral-fin base. Snout dusky. Interorbital and nape areas with irregular, narrow, dark, vertical lines mostly originating at dorsal edge of orbit, extending to dorsal midline and onto fleshy bladelike crest as pattern of vermiculations. Broad saddlelike, dark band on nape just anterior to 1st dorsal-fin spine; ventral end of band almost confluent with dark blotch at upper end of operculum.

Trunk: Pale to pale dusky with 7 pairs of broad, dark bands; posterior 2 bands often faint to absent (paired nature of bands less apparent in very large specimens); pale spaces between band pairs, one and one-half to two times as broad as adjacent bands. Bands extending from dorsal body contour almost to ventral body contour or becoming faint on ventral 3rd of body. Dorsal ends of body bands often expanded, occasionally more intense than rest of band, often with pale spot in center or near dorsal end of expanded area (particularly in anterior bands). Expanded dorsal ends of anterior 2 or 3 band pairs often deflected slightly anteriorly, those of posterior 2 or 3 pairs deflected slightly posteriorly; expanded portions of anterior and posterior bands sometimes separated from rest of band. Very faint, narrow, vertical, dusky lines sometimes present midway between bands.

Pectoral Fin: Pale with even spread of dark specks of pigment. Narrow, faint, dusky bar extending along basal portion of upper half of fin; ventrodistal portion of fin dusky. Fleshy base with nearly vertical, broad, dark band extending from edge of branchiostegal membrane to chest, usually faint or terminating on prepelvic area.

Pelvic Fin: Pale with even spread of dark specks of pigment.

Dorsal Fin: Transparent with dusky to dark markings. Dark dusky blotch at fin base just above each body band; some specimens with each blotch consisting of 2 closely paired blotches. Spinous portion of fin with moderately broad, dusky to dark stripe; some specimens with basal dark blotches extending dorsoposteriorly as faint, moderately broad, dusky bands; proximal portion of fin often dusky.

Anal Fin: Largely dusky, especially distally; proximal portion often slightly transparent. Tips of rays abruptly pale, particularly anterior rays.

Caudal Fin: Pale with 2 or 3 dusky streaks directed posteriorly from 1 or 2 vertically oriented, large dusky areas on basal one-fifth of fin. Proximal edge with narrow, dark dusky bar centrally. One large specimen had very fine, intensely dark spots spread over dorsal, anal, and caudal fins.

Females: Similar to males except: dark markings on head, body, and fins (other than oval spot posterior to eye and saddle-like band on nape) fainter; body bands noticeably fainter; bands not distinct as in males, even in darkly pigmented females.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Figure 4).—Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and northern Arabian Sea. The Persian Gulf record was not accompanied by a specific locality; the record on the distribution map for the Persian Gulf is to be considered as generalized. Reported as occurring at Minicoy Atoll, Laccadive Archipelago, by Nagabhushanam and Chandrasekhara Rao (1972), which, if true, would represent a significant range extension. We were unable to verify the identification.

HABITAT.—Known only for 1 collection; rocks, sand, and sparse coral, thus indicating normal ocean salinites.

COMPARISONS.—Omobranchus mekranensis is a member of the banditus species group (see “Comparisons” under O. banditus). Superficially it is most similar to O. fasciolatus (for comparison see O. fasciolatus). The only species of Omobranchus, other than O. fasciolatus, with which O. mekranensis appears to be sympatric is O. punctatus, which lacks a fleshy crest and rarely has as few as 2 interorbital pores (only 2 in O. mekranensis).

NOMENCLATURAL

Omobranchus mekranensis és una espècie de peix de la família dels blènnids i de l'ordre dels perciformes.

Omobranchus mekranensis, the Mekran blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny found in the western Indian ocean.

Omobranchus mekranensis es una especie de pez de la familia Blenniidae en el orden de los Perciformes.

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Omobranchus mekranensis Omobranchus generoko animalia da. Arrainen barruko Actinopterygii klasean sailkatzen da, Blenniidae familian.