Bluespotted Blenny

Black with white specks (Ref. 37816).

Oviparous, distinct pairing (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 11 - 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18 - 20; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 20 - 23

Occurs in the intertidal zone, where it hides beneath rocks (Ref. 637 and 559).

Adults occur in the intertidal zone, where they hide beneath rocks (Ref. 637 and 559). 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).

Parenchelyurus hepburni (Snyder)

The following specimens represent new locality records for the species, which is now known to extend from the Amirante Islands, in the western Indian Ocean, to Samoa, in the central Pacific Ocean: DASF F03200 (26.8), Port Moresby, New Guinea; USNM 211875 (2: 22.7–32.4), Ambon Island, Indonesia; USNM 211876 (23.0), Buton (also Butung), Indonesia; NFIS 11862 (2: 13.0–ca. 22), Great Nicobar Island, Nicobar Islands; ANSP station no. F–102 (8: 17.1–24.9), St. Joseph Island, Amirante Islands. The species appears to vary little throughout its geographic range.

Yamakawa (1971) reported and illustrated P. hepburni (as Omobranchus hepburni) from Yoronto and Kikaijima. These localities represent the northernmost records for the species.

Springer (1972a) believed that the types of Hypleurochilus samoensis Seale might represent the postlarvae of P. hepburni. It now appears more likely that these types are larval stages of Omobranchus r. obliquus, based on their dorsal-fin formulae.

Both species of Parenchelyurus have two mandibular sensory pores, as indicated in Springer’s (1972a) key to the species. Due to a typographical error, the number of mandibular pores was given as three in Springer’s generic diagnosis.

Parenchelyurus hepburni (Snyder)

Enchelyurus hepburni Snyder, 1908, p. 110 [Okinawa, USNM 62247].

?Hypleurochilus samoensis Seale, 1935, p. 374 [Pago Pago, Samoa; CAS 5515].

Enchelyurus caeruleo-punctatus Herre, 1939, p. 340 [Nasugbu, Batangas Province, Luzon, Philippine Islands, CAS SU 33023].

REMARKS.–In the original description, Enchelyurus caeruleopunctatus was compared only with Enchelyurus flavipes, which is a true Enchelyurus. The holotype of E. caeruleopunctatus is a male P. hepburni. In P. hepburni, spotting on the body and fins is found only in males. The spots, which are blue in life, fade rapidly in preservation and frequently are completely lost.

The types of Hypleurochilus samoensis are both postlarvae, as indicated by the fact that each has a spine at the lower angle of the preopercle. Based on fin formulae they could possibly be a species of Omobranchus. The pores, which might give a clue, are obscured, but the only Omobranchini so far known from Samoa are Parenchelyurus hepburni and Enchelyurus ater. The dorsal fin spine count of XII and pectoral fin ray count of 13 in both the holotype and paratype of H. samoensis exclude their identification with Enchelyurus, but not Parenchelyurus.

A specimen of P. hepburni as small as 11.0 mm SL did not bear the strong preopercular spines as found in the postlarval types of H. samoensis, 12.3–12.6 mm SL. This may indicate that there is a reduction in SL at the time of transformation. Unmetamorphosed postlarvae of the salariinine genus Ophioblennius Gill frequently are larger than metamorphosed individuals (Springer, 1962).

MATERIAL EXAMINED.–Okinawa: CAS SU21112 (2: 21.9–30.7); Naha, USNM 74554 (3: 21.0–32.1), USNM 62247 (34.9, holotype of Enchelyurus hepburni). Philippine Islands: Oriental Negros, Nagbak, CAS GVF1618 (28.2); Oriental Negros, Duamaguete, CAS SU38220 (35.8); Batangas, Nasugbu, CAS SU33023 (30.5, holotype of Enchelyurus caeruleopunctatus), CAS SU33024 (27.5); Oriental Negros, Siaton, CAS GVF2671 (3: 11.0–24.8). Gulf of Thailand: Hinson Chalam, CAS GVF1466 (2: 29.5–30.8), CAS SU6295 (32.5); Goh Samet Island, CAS GVF1572 (23.6), lat. 08°26′06″ N, 100°45′06″ E, CAS GVF2037 (7: 23.4–32.0). Marshall Islands: Eniwetok, USNM 204931 (24.2). Caroline Islands: Ponape, USNM 65883 (28.3). New Hebrides: AMS I.14320 (2: 29.6–32.0); Wala Island, CAS SU24068 (27.7). Australia: Great Barrier Reef, One Tree Island, USNM 204083 (31.0), USNM 204081 (5: 0–33.5, including one specimen cleared and stained). Solomon Islands: Guadalcanal, BPBM 8143 (16.3), BPBM 8144 (3: 24.7–28.8). Fiji Islands: Makalawa, BPBM 8145 (7: 21.6–32.7). Samoa: Apia, USNM 164989 (23.6), USNM 164990 (25.7); Pago Pago, CAS 5515 and CAS 5516 (2: 12.3–12.6, includes holotype of Hypleurochilus samoensis; holotype and paratype in same bottle, not separated).1

分布於印度-太平洋區，由馬達加斯加至薩摩亞，北至日本，南至新加勒多尼亞等。台灣分布於東部海域。

小型魚類，僅具學術研究價值。

體長橢圓，稍側扁；頭稍扁平；間鰓蓋骨之腹後側有突起，向後超過上舌骨之後緣。頭頂無冠膜；頭無鬚。鰓孔長比眼徑還小，止於胸鰭上基部。上下唇平滑；上下頜各側後方具一犬齒。D. XI, 18; A. II, 19; P. 13; V. I, 2。背鰭無缺刻，背鰭、臀鰭與尾鰭基部以鰭膜相連。體黑褐色，散布白點；除腹鰭、胸鰭、尾鰭及臀鰭鰭緣為灰色外，餘為黑褐色；背、臀鰭具有2-3行呈縱列白色；尾鰭亦散布白點。

主要棲息於沿岸潮間帶礁石潮池區，深度4公尺內，常藏身於洞穴或縫隙內，受驚嚇時可見其用一前一後的方式跳躍於潮池與空氣間。以藻類、碎屑和小型無脊椎動物為食。

Parenchelyurus hepburni, Hepburn's blenny or the bluespotted blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny found in coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian Ocean.

Occurs in the intertidal zone, where it hides beneath rocks (Refs. 637 and 559).