Kurt'S Coralblenny

Ecsenius kurti

DESCRIPTION.—Dorsal fin XII,13–15 (modally 14). Anal fin II, 14–17 (modally 16). Pectoral fin 13 or 14 (14 in only one specimen, and only unilaterally). Segmented caudal-fin rays 13. Vertebrae 10 + 21–23 (modally 22). Dentary incisor teeth (includes anterior canine teeth, which differ little, if at all, in appearance from incisors) 42–46; posterior dentary canines (specimens at least 25 mm SL) 4–7 on each side. Lateral line without pairs of pores, terminating posteriorly at point between verticals from dorsal-fin spine 9 and interspace between spines 10 and 11 (modally reaching vertical from 10). Cirrus present on posterior rim of anterior nostril; none on anterior rim.

Preserved Color: Head variable, generally pale to moderately darkly dusky (darker in males than females), often darkest above mid-orbital level; dusky spot often present at midpostorbital margin, occasionally continuing posteriorly across head, particularly on opercle, as dark or diffuse, faintly dusky stripe, which connects with middle body stripe; some specimens with short, diffuse, dusky stripe on ventral third of opercle; ventral surface of head usually with indications of slender, dark stripe on each side extending posteriorly from just posterior to lower lip and ceasing before reaching margin of gill opening. Body with three slender, dark stripes separated by equal interspaces in region of pectoral-fin axil; stripes continuous anteriorly, changing posteriorly, usually in region below segmented-ray portion of dorsal fin, to dashes, then fine, dark spots (usually 4 or more spots in each “stripe”); dorsal stripe originating in region above anterior, oblique portion of lateral line, proceeding posteriorly along lateral line, and terminating at some point below posterior region of segmented-ray portion of dorsal fin; middle stripe originating as far anteriorly as head and terminating posteriorly as dark spot at caudal-fin base; ventral stripe originating in pectoral-fin axil and ceasing posteriorly as dark spot on caudal peduncle well anterior to caudal-fin base; some specimens exhibited 7 or 8 faintly dusky bands along dorsal body contour, extending ventrally and becoming offset in space between two ventral dark stripes. Dorsal fin: spinous portion with fine melanophores distributed along spines, least dense in interradial membranes closely adjacent to spines, and narrowly along fin base; segmented ray portion with slender, immaculate area (stripe) just above base, from which melanophores extend dorsally along rays, diffusely concentrating ventrally (giving impression of faint suprabasal stripe in males); few melanophores at ray tips (in males). Anal fin generally dusky with pale ray tips; melanophores concentrating in membranes just proximal to ray tips, giving appearance of subdistal stripe. Pectoral fin with melanophores along rays; fleshy base usually with indication of fine, dark stripe at about mid-level. Pelvic fins ranging from immaculate to rays with sparsely distributed melanophores. Caudal-fin dusky basally with rays essentially unmarked except for fine, dusky margin dorsally and ventrally on each ray; membranes of central rays variably dusky, others almost clear.

COMPARISONS.—See this section under Ecsenius aequalis.

DISTRIBUTION.—Known only from the Cuyo Islands, Palawan Province, Philippine Islands.

ETYMOLOGY.—Ecsenius kurti is named for Kurt A. Bruwelheide, former museum specialist in the Division of Fishes, who participated in much of the early work of this study.

HOLOTYPE.—USNM 227416, male, 35.0 mm SL, Philippine Islands, Palawan Province, Cuyo Islands, Bararin Island, west side, 0–13.7 m, 23 May 1978, Smithsonian Institution and Silliman University teams.

PARATYPES.—Philippine Islands, Palawan Province, Cuyo Islands: Bararin Island, USNM 219305 (7 specimens: 12–32 mm SL; collected with the holotype), 219311 (3:26–30); Tagauayan Island, USNM 219303 (2:30, 33).