Leopard Blenniella

Diagnosis: Dorsal fin XII-XIV, 17-20, notched between spinous and segmented-ray portions; anal fin II, 19-22; pectoral rays 13-15; pelvic fin I, 3; caudal fin, procurrent rays 10-14, segmented rays 12-13. Vertebrae 11-12 + 26-27. Orbital cirrus simple filamentous; nasal cirri short and palmate with 2-5 branches; nape with cirri bilaterally. Lateral line, continuous anterodorsally below dorsal spines from 7-8th to 10th, disconnected posteroventrally up to below dorsal spine 9th to 12-13th. Mandibular pores 5-6 Lips margin entire. Occipital crest absent but males have low fleshy median predorsal ridge (Ref. 9962). Body depth at anal-fin origin 5.7-6.8 in SL. Male back with dark brown saddles from dorsal base to middle of side, and midlaterally with a row of blue dashes. Female with dark vertical dark H-shaped bars and many spots posteriorly; dorsal and caudal fins spotted (Ref. 90102).

Oviparous, distinct pairing (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 12 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17 - 20; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 19 - 22; Vertebrae: 37 - 38

Specimens were collected from an inner portion of reef flat in small, irregular sand pool, between limestone outcrops with coral fragments, at 0.1 m (Ref. 9962). Found in intertidal zone, rocky areas, 0-2 m deep (Ref. 90102).

Specimens were collected from an inner portion of reef flat in small, irregular sand pool, between limestone outcrops with coral fragments, at 0.1 m (Ref. 9962). Adults are found in intertidal zone (Ref. 90102). 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).

Blenniella leopardus (Fowler)

Entomacrodus leopardus Fowler, 1904:554 [Padang, Sumatra; holotype ANSP 27805].

Salarias bleekeri Chapman, 1951:338 [Port Blair, South Andamans; holotype CAS-SU 37136].

DESCRIPTION.—Dorsal fin (Table 9). XII to XIV, 17 to 20 = 30 to 33 (XIII, 19 or 20 in 31 of 37 specimens examined for character); mean number of total elements statistically significantly higher for males than for females; membrane between spinous and segmented-ray portions notched or more length of first segmented ray (usually more than length); membrane from posteriormost ray attaching to point ranging from slightly in advance of caudal-fin base to out on dorsal edge of caudal fin up to 10% length of fin in males (rarely more than 6%, usually not attached on fin), up to 5% in females (rarely attached on fin).

Anal fin (Table 9). II,19 to 22 (22 in only 1 of 18 males); mean number of segmented elements statistically significantly higher for males than for females; posteriormost element not split to base, not bound by membrane to caudal peduncle in any of 37 available specimens. Skin covering anal-fin spines and distal half of segmented rays of large or mature males occasionally thickened or inflated, but not rugose or crinkled along edges (relatively few males available).

Pectoral-fin rays 13 to 15 (14 bilaterally in 33 of 37 available specimens).

Pelvic-fin rays I,3.

Caudal fin. Dorsal procurrent rays 5 to 7 (6 or 7 in 31 of 32 specimens examined for character), ventral procurrent rays 5 to 7 (6 or 7 in 30 of 32 specimens examined for character), total procurrent rays 11 to 14; segmented rays 12 or 13 (12 in only 1 of 34 specimens examined for this character).

Vertebrae (Table 9). 11 or 12+26 or 27 = 37 or 38 (12 in only one of 36 specimens examined for character), mean number of total (and caudal) vertebrae higher for males than for females (difference not statistically significant); posteriormost pleural rib on 12th from anteriormost centrum in all 27 specimens examined for character; posteriormost epineural on 22nd, or 24th to 27th from anteriormost centrum (on 22nd in only 1 of 29 specimens examined for character).

Cirri. Nape cirrus present bilaterally in 36 of 37 specimens examined for character (absent bilaterally in one specimen). Orbital cirrus a simple filament in all specimens; shorter than orbital diameter in all but 1 specimen, male, with cirrus slightly longer than orbital diameter. Nasal cirri short, palmate, with 2 to 5 branches in specimens over 25 mm SL.

Lateral line. Continuous canal anterodorsally with simple pores (no vertical pairs of pores), extending posteriorly to point between vertical from between bases of 7th and 8th dorsal-fin spines and vertical from base of 10th spine (between verticals from bases of 8th and 9th spines in 29 of 33 specimens examined for character), then continuing posteroventrally and posteriorly as series of 2 to 5 short, disconnected, horizontally bi-pored canals (tubes) in skin; posteriormost tube in area between vertical from base of 9th spine and vertical between bases of 12th and 13th spines.

Mandibular pores 5 or 6 (6 bilaterally in 27 of 29 specimens examined for character).

Six or 8 sensory pore positions between 1 and 5 o'clock on postorbital margin (6 in 28 of 29 specimens examined for character); 2 or 3 positions each occupied by pair of pores (2 positions in 28 of 29 specimens).

Posterior canines present in both sexes (visible in smallest specimen, 25.7 mm SL, available.

Margins of both lips entire.

Well-developed fleshy crest absent in all specimens, but males >29 mm SL with distinct, low, fleshy, median predorsal ridge dorsally on head; males 27 to 29 mm (smallest available) with faint indication of ridge; females always lack indication of ridge.

Color pattern (in preservative). Males (Figures 12a, 13a). Head: variably dusky with prominent small, dark spot (sometimes appearing silvery white) just posterior and ventral to mid-level of orbit; another small, dark spot often present just dorsoposterior to pore at about 1 o'clock on postorbital margin; large, prominent, dark spot always present dorsoanteriorly on opercle, encroaching on preopercular margin; small, dark spot sometimes present just dorsal to opercular spot; short, irregular bar, slightly paler than dusky surrounding area, extends ventrally from orbit across corner of upper lip, occasionally narrowing and extending across ventral surface of head just posterior to edge of lower lip, continuous with similar marking from opposite side of head. Body: side irregularly dusky below spinous portion of dorsal fin; row of up to 4 small-to-large, often diffuse, dark bars or blotches on midside below segmented-ray portion of dorsal fin, usually only 2 or 3 blotches recognizable, indications of another blotch occasionally present on caudal peduncle; ventral margin of each blotch frequently with slender, white area with dark dorsal margin (ocellus); 1 or 2 middle blotches with moderately large, dark, oblong spot (ocellus) dorsally (spot may have paler center); dorsal ocellus below 10th to 12th segmented rays usually prominent, diameter greater than that of pupil. Dorsal fin: spinous portion overall dusky with narrow, pale area just above dorsal body contour, followed dorsally by wide, diffuse, dark area, wide, slightly less dark area, and narrow, darker distal margin to fin interrupted by unpigmented tips of spines; segmented-ray portion somewhat similar to spinous portion but less evenly dusky, occasionally with few, faintly dusky pinstripes radiating dorsoposteriorly across basal half of fin. Anal fin dusky, slightly darker distally. Caudal fin with dusky interradial membranes often interrupted by rows of small, diffuse, pale spots; dorsoposterior portion of fin generally paler or unmarked. Pectoral fin unmarked, except 1 specimen with 4 or 5 small, diffusely dusky spots on each fin. Pelvic fins unmarked.

Females (Figures 12b, 13b). Head: variably pale and dusky, markings paler than in male; small, dusky spot sometimes present just posterior and ventral to mid-level of orbit; broad, dusky band extending across ventral surface from corners of mouth; band partially interrupted mid-ventrally by pale area, separated from dark lower lip by narrow, pale area. Body: irregular, faint, dusky band-like markings anteriorly grading posteriorly into numerous small, dark spots, mostly restricted to side below segmented-ray portion of dorsal fin; spots more or less arranged in pairs and rows, especially on midside and just dorsal to ventral body contour (dark dashes or pinstripes not present, although, infrequently, spots of a horizontal pair may coalesce). Dorsal fin: pale with dark spots on spines and rays, or adjacent to rays; spots arranged in more or less curved rows. Anal fin with 1 or 2 rows of faintly to darkly dusky spots, interradial membranes dusky distally, tips of rays pale. Caudal fin with up to about 7 columns of dark spots mostly restricted to rays. Pectoral and pelvic fins essentially immaculate.

The only previously published illustration of Blenniella leopardus, is that of Fowler's (1904, pl. 27, upper figure) rather stylized drawing of the female holotype, which captures the essence of the color pattern.

Size. Largest available male and female specimens about 60 mm and 50 mm SL, respectively; smallest specimens 27.0 mm and 25.7 mm SL. No ophioblennius-stage (if they occur) or sex-indeterminate specimens available.

ECOLOGY.—Habitat data are available for only 1 lot of specimens (USNM 285227): collected from inner portion of reef flat in small, irregular sand pool, about 2 × 3 m, between limestone outcrops with coral fragments, at depth of 0.1 m.

COMPARISONS AND INTERRELATIONSHIPS.—Sister species to B. interrupta (see Phylogenetic Analysis section), from which it differs most obviously in having nape cirri; females differ in that those of interrupta usually have several dark slashes on body, probably formed by fusions of spots, whereas slashes are essentially absent in female leopardus (see Table 5 for comparison of males with those of other species).

DISTRIBUTION (Figure 63).—Northeasternmost Indian Ocean from Andaman Islands south to Bengkulu, Sumatra.

NOMENCLATURAL

Blenniella leopardus, the leopard blenniella , is a species of combtooth blenny found in the eastern Indian Ocean from Sumatra north to the Andaman Islands. It can reach a maximum length of 6 centimetres (2.4 in) SL.