Highfin Blenny

Species distinguished by: anterior dorsal-fin spines longer than posterior rays (greatly elongate in males); dorsal fin not separated into 2 portions by deep notch; dorsal-fin spines usually 12, the last easy to see; total dorsal-fin elements 25 to 30; pectoral-fin soft rays usually 13; total dorsal-fin elements 25 to 27; segmented caudal-fin soft rays usually 13; segmented pelvic-fin rays 3 or 4; cirri present only on eyes; a single, simple cirrus on each eye; ventral edge of upper lip smooth; gill opening continuous from one side of head to other across ventral surface of head, extending ventrally to about midlevel of pectoral-fin base or further (may extend completely around lower side of head and form common opening with gill opening of opposite side); no teeth on vomer; lateral line never consisting of 2 disconnected, overlapping portions. Common amongst Blenniids: small, slender fishes, largest species to about 13 cm SL, most under 7.5 cm SL. Eyes high on sides of head; mouth ventral, upper jaw not protractile. A single row of incisor-like teeth in each jaw and often an enlarged canine-like tooth posteriorly on each side of lower jaw and sometimes upper jaw; no teeth on palatines. Dorsal and anal fins long, their spines usually flexible; dorsal fin with fewer spines than segmented (soft) rays; 2 spines in anal fin, scarcely differentiated from the segmented rays, the first not visible in females, both often supporting fleshy, bulbous, rugose swellings at their tips in males; pelvic fins inserted anterior to base of pectoral fins, with 1 spine (not visible) and segmented rays; all segmented fin rays, except those of caudal fin, unbranched (simple), caudal-fin rays of adults branched. All species lack scales (Ref.52855).

Oviparous, distinct pairing (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Analspines: 2

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).

fisheries: of no interest

Lupinoblennius nicholsi, the highfin blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny found in the western Atlantic ocean, on the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico in north-eastern Mexico and Texas, it has also been recorded from Englewood, Florida. This species reaches a length of 6 centimetres (2.4 in) TL. The specific name honours the American ichthyologist John Treadwell Nichols (1883-1958).