Bluespotted Blenny

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