Istiblennius flaviumbrinus (Rüppell 1830)

Oviparous, distinct pairing (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 13 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16 - 17; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 16 - 17

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).

Istiblennius flaviumbrinus (Rüppell)

Salaris [sic] flaviumbrinus Rüppell, 1830:112 [Mohila (Saudi Arabia); holotype or lectotype, SMF 1893; see nomenclatural discussion below].

Salarias dama Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1836:366 [based on illustration by C.G. Ehrenberg, which was probably based on ZMB 1957 from Red Sea, accepted as holotype in present study; see nomenclatural discussion below and Blennius dama in synonymy below].

Salariasflavo-umbrinus Rüppell. 1838:135 [misspelling].

Salarias cervus Cuvier and Valenciennes in Sauvage, 1880:218 [Mer Rouge; holotype, MNHN 2208].

Blennius dama Hemprich and Ehrenberg, 1899:3 [mari rubro; probably based on ZMB 1957, accepted as holotype in present study, see Salarias dama in synonymy above].

Halmablennius steinitzi Lotan, 1970:367 [Entedebir islet, Dahlak Archipelago; holotype, HUJ 13930].

DESCRIPTION.—Dorsal fin (Table 40). XIII or XIV, 16 or 17 = 29 or 30 (XIV in only 2 of 64 specimens examined for character); males have significantly (p= 80 mm SL, at caudal-fin base or on dorsal edge of fin slightly posterior to fin base in specimens >80 mm.

Anal fin (Table 40). II,16 or 17; males have significantly (p =
Pectoral-fin rays 12 to 15, 14 bilaterally in 52 of 55 specimens examined for character (rays 12/14, 13/14, and 14/15 in 1 specimen each).

Pelvic-fin rays I,2 or 3 (2 only unilaterally, in only 2 specimens).

Caudal fin. Dorsal procurrent rays 6 to 8 (predominantly 7), ventral procurrent rays 6 to 8 (predominantly 7), total procurrent rays 12 to 16 (predominantly 14, Table 41), segmented rays 13 or 14 (14 in only 3 of 61 specimens examined for character).

Vertebrae (Tables 40 and 41). 11 or 12+23 or 24 = 34 or 35 (only 1 specimen with 12, 2 with 34, and 3 with 23 in 64 specimens examined for these characters); posteriormost pleural rib on 11th or 12th from anteriormost centrum (on 12th in only 2 of 47 specimens); posteriormost epineural on 12th to 14th from anteriormost centrum (on 13th in 34 of 49 specimens examined).

Cirri. Nape cirrus absent. Orbital cirrus shorter than orbital diameter, variable in shape, often consisting of central stalk with 2 short branches or points on lateral and medial edges, tip often notched. Nasal cirrus short, palmate, with 3 to 8 branches in specimens >45 mm SL.

Lateral line (Table 41). Continuous canal anterodorsally with simple pores (no vertical pairs of pores), extending posteriorly to point between verticals from bases of 5th and 9th dorsal-fin spines (usually to between 6th and 7th spines), then continuing posteriorly as series of 3 to 13 (usually 5 to 8) short, disconnected, horizontally bi-pored canals (tubes) in skin; posteriormost tube in area between verticals from bases of 9th dorsal-fin spine and 4th segmented ray (usually anterior to 3rd ray).

Mandibular pores 4 to 6 (always 5 pores, at least unilaterally; 4 and 6 pores only unilaterally and in only 1 specimen each of 54 specimens examined for character).

Five or 6 sensory pore postions between 1 o'clock and 5 o'clock on postorbital margin (6 in 26 of 43 specimens examined for character); all positions occupied by single pores.

Posterior canines tiny, inconspicuous (often present only unilaterally) in 20 males 38 to 90 mm SL, absent in 10 males 30 to 60 mm SL and in all females.

Ventral margin of upper lip crenulate (in specimens as small as 30 mm SL); dorsal margin of lower lip entire, sometimes with few broad, shallow scallops.

Males ≥38 mm SL with fleshy, blade-like crest dorsally on head; males 30 to 38 mm with scarcely noticeable ridge; 30 females, 29 to 72 mm SL, without crest or ridge, and 1 female, 72 mm, with well-developed crest (abnormal?).

Color pattern (in preservative; Figure 55). Head variably dusky with diffuse markings; sometimes with dark reversed-C or reversed double-C arrangement of small, dark spots posterior to orbit (see small female, Figure 55c); body with up to 5 pairs of irregular, dusky bands, which extend dorsally onto dorsal fin, become slender, and extend dorsoposteriorly as stripes; tiny, dark spot often present on side between lateral line and proximal base of dorsalmost pectoral-fin ray (spot external to dorsalmost extension of cleithrum); fins, except dorsal, indistinctly marked, except for dorsoventral pair of diffusely dusky spots basally on caudal fin.

Size. Largest male, 90 mm SL; largest female, 72 mm; smallest specimen available 29.5 mm SL, not an ophioblennius stage.

COMPARISONS AND RELATIONSHIPS.—See discussion in this section under I. spilotus.

DISTRIBUTION (Figure 69).—Restricted to the Red Sea. All but one specimen, from Mohila, northeastern Red Sea, have come from the southern Red Sea.

NOMENCLATURAL

Istiblennius flaviumbrinus is a species of combtooth blenny found in the western Indian Ocean, specifically the Red Sea. Males of this species can reach a maximum of 9 cm (3.5 in) SL, while females can reach a maximum of 7.2 cm (2.8 in) SL.