Fiji Clown Blenny

Dorsal fin XII, 13 or 14, deeply notched between spinous and segmented-ray portions. Anal fin II,15 or 16. Pectoral fin 13 or 14 (rarely 14). Caudal fin 13. Vertebrae 10 + 21-23 (usually 22). Dentary incisor teeth 36-50 which includes anterior canine teeth very similar in appearancewith incisors; posterior canines usually 1 on each side. Lateral line lacking vertical pairs of pores, terminating posteriorly at point between verticals from dorsal-fin spines 10 and 12(typically at 12). With cirrus on posterior rim of anterior nostril; absent on anterior rim.

Oviparous, distinct pairing (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 14; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 15 - 16; Vertebrae: 31 - 33

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 fijiensis

Ecsenius opsifrontalis.—McKinney and Springer, 1976:17–19, figs 9d,e [in part; Fiji Islands].

DESCRIPTION.—Dorsal fin XII,13 or 14, deeply notched between spinous and segmented-ray portions. Anal fin II,15 or 16. Pectoral fin 13 or 14 (rarely 14). Caudal fin 13. Vertebrae 10 + 21–23 (usually 22). Dentary incisor teeth 36–50 (includes anterior canine teeth, which differ little, if at all, in appearance from incisors); posterior canines usually 1 on each side. Lateral line without vertical pairs of pores, terminating posteriorly at point between verticals from dorsal-fin spines 10 and 12 (usually at 12). Cirrus present on posterior rim of anterior nostril; none on anterior rim.

Preserved Color: Dark stripe extending posteriorly from postorbital margin, decreasing in intensity as it extends on anterior half of body (intensity did not decrease in one specimen, <25 mm SL); head darker above, paler below, without distinct markings below postorbital stripe. Conspicuous dark markings absent from anterior third of body. Most conspicuous markings on posterior half of body, consisting of 7–8 vertical pairs of intensely dark spots arranged in two rows; spots usually discrete, occasionally with vertical or horizontal dusky connections, three pairs posterior to vertical through posteriormost segmented dorsal-fin ray, with posteriormost pair clearly extending onto basal portion of caudal fin; spots of dorsal row represent intensifications of postorbital stripe on body; ventral row of spots represent intensifications of dusky stripe originating near pectoral-fin axil (spots are in positions where bands of other species in group cross stripes). Dark saddle-like spots variably present dorsal to dorsal row of spots, impinging on dorsal fin basally, and often connected with dorsal row of spots. Anal fin with broad, dusky, submarginal band; other fin and body markings not distinctive.

Color pattern (based on notes and photographs of freshly collected specimens; Plate 12: figure 3). Ground color pale gray to white ventrally; head and pectoral-fin base orange brown, darker above, paler below. Narrow black stripe extends posteriorly from postorbital margin to vertical from second dorsal-fin spine, where stripe merges with broader, red-orange stripe that continues to vertical from tenth to eleventh spine; stripe then changes to gray and is punctuated by 8 black spots; narrow, pale stripe present along ventral margin of cephalic portion of black stripe. Another red-orange stripe (originating in pectoral-fin axil) changing to gray and punctuated by 8 black spots parallels other stripe; anteriormost black spot of second stripe with much red pigment, and may appear more as reddish spot. Each of the posterior 7 black spots of dorsal stripe connected by a gray bar to a spot in ventral stripe. Black spots variously irridescing bluish. Dorsal-fin base red orange anteriorly; red-orange blotch on body contour below spines 6 to 8, followed by 7 black blotches. Anal fin with broad pinkish-brown submarginal stripe.

COMPARISONS.—The two rows of prominent, essentially discrete, dark spots arranged in vertical pairs, with 3 pairs (as opposed to no more than 2 pairs) on the caudal peduncle posterior to a vertical from the posteriormost segmented dorsal-fin ray, and the essential absence of dark spots on the anterior third of the body are sufficient to distinguish E. fijiensis from all other species in the Opsifrontalis Group.

Superficially, the color pattern of E. fijiensis could be confused with that of E. collettei (Figure 58; a member of the Bandanus Group). The dorsal row of spots in E. collettei begins below the anterior portion of the spinous dorsal fin, whereas this row of spots begins below the posterior portion of the spinous dorsal fin in E. fijiensis. There is no postorbital stripe in E. collettei, although a dark spot is present on the posterior portion of the head at about the mid-postorbital level. The elongate, curved, dark marks on the ventral surface of the head of some specimens of E. collettei are not duplicated in E. fijiensis. Finally, there does not appear to be any red-orange pigment on the body of E. colletei (Plate 13: figure 6).

DISTRIBUTION.—Known only from Fiji, including the Lau Group of islands, but absent from Ono-i-Lau and Rotuma.

ETYMOLOGY.—named fijiensis in reference to its presumed endemicity in Fiji.

HOLOTYPE.—USNM 211285, male, 35 mm SL, fore-reef N of Alacrity Passage, leeward Great Astrolabe Reef, Kadavu (= Kandavu or Candavu), rich coral growth, depth 3–6 m, B.A. Carlson, 5 August 1973.

PARATYPES.—USNM 231668 (1 specimen: 34 mm SL), collected with holotype; USNM 210562 (1:32), Alacrity Reef, S of Alacrity Pass and due W of Yabu Island, Great Astrolabe Reef, Kadavu, depth ca. 18 m, B.A. Carlson and M. Gawel, 1 April 1972; USNM 214521 (1:37), W side Rat-tail Passage, Suva Harbour, Viti Levu, depth 0–ca. 8 m, B.A. Carlson, et al., 25 June 1975; AMS I.18354-112 (6:32–38), Bird Island, Bay of Islands, Suva, Viti Levu, B. Russell and B. Goldman, 9 July 1974; ANSP 128013 (4:33–39) E side Mbengga Island, ca. 33 km SW of Suva Harbor, Viti Levu, ca. 24 m, W.F. Smith-Vaniz et al., 14 April 1974; ANSP 128014 (1:31), ca. 100 m S of previous locality, ca. 12–18 m, same date and collectors; USNM 236009 (3:27–32), Viti Levu, ocean side of barrier reef SE side of channel to Suva, V.G. Springer et al., 19 April 1982; USNM 236011 (13:18–36), Dawson Reef, Kadavu, V.G. Springer et al, 12 May 1982; USNM 236010 (11:23–34), Totoya, ocean side of barrier reef, WSW Na’vaka Gap, V.G. Springer et al., 27 April 1982; USNM 236015 (1:29), Yagasa (= Yangasa), ocean side of barrier reef, V.G. Springer et al., 2 May 1982; USNM 279472 (1:32), Vatoa, NW outer reef, 4.5–9.4 m, A. D. Lewis et al., 14 June 1986; ROM 50029 (7: 22–34), outer reef top on E side Great Astrolabe Reef, due E of N tip of Dravuni, 6–10 m, R. Winterbottom et al., 30 March 1983; ROM 50031 (16:19–31), 200 yds S of Usborne Pass, outer reef, 8–12 m, R. Winterbottom et al., 22 March 1983; ROM 50037 (15:19–37), off Yanu-Yanu-Sau Island (just S of Dravuni), 0.5–3 m, R. Winterbottom et al., 30 March 1983.

OTHER MATERIAL.—USNM 236008 (9 specimens), Kadavu; USNM 236012 (2), USNM 236013 (2), 236014 (8), 236972 (40), all Matuku; ROM 50027 (1), NW of Dravuni; ROM 50028 (1), S coast of Vanuakula; ROM 50030 (1), Herald Pass 4.1 km N of Yanu-Yanu-Sau Island; ROM 50032 (1), 50036 (6), reef off Dravuni; ROM 50033 (6), S of Usborne Pass; ROM 50034 (4), SW of Beagle Pass; ROM 50035 (3), between Usborn and Herald passes; ROM 50038 (5), Herald Pass.

Ecsenius fijiensis is a species of combtooth blenny in the genus Ecsenius. It is found in coral reefs in the western central Pacific ocean, around the Fiji Islands. It can reach a maximum length of 3.9 centimetres. Blennies in this species feed primarily off of benthic algae and weeds.