Auchenionchus microcirrhis (Valenciennes 1836)

Carnivore (Ref. 50629).

Carnivorous; feeds on other fishes; juveniles favoring amphipods and shifts to diet of decapods as adults (Ref. 94105).

fisheries: of no interest

Auchenionchus microcirrhis (Valenciennes)

Clinus microcirrhis Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1836:384 [coasts of Valparaiso; syntypes, MNHN, A.2072, A.2126; lectotype designated in specimens examined below].

Clinus peruvianus Valenciennes, 1836:383 [no type or type-locality designated; probably Peru; described from a drawing reproduced herein as Figure 10].

Clinus niger Philippi, 1896: 377 [Chile; holotype apparently destroyed].

Auchenionchus tentaculatus DeBuen, 1962:63 [Auca; holotype, EBM 10.356, apparently destroyed].

Auchenionchus verrucosus DeBuen, 1962:68 [Antofagasta; holotype, EBM 10.021, apparently destroyed].

Auchenionchus miniatus DeBuen, 1962:60 [zone of Valparaiso; holotype, EBM 10.372, apparently destroyed].

DESCRIPTION.—Counts are summarized in Table 3. Salient characters are presented in the key. Dorsal fin XXV-XXVI,11–12; total dorsal-fin elements 36–38; anal fin II,23–24; pectoral fin 13; pelvic fin I,3; caudal fin 13; lateral-line scales 56–63; vertebrae 12–13 + 29–31 = 32–33.

Morphometric characters of eleven specimens examined: SL 64.0–252.0 mm; head length 26.4–30.0; head depth 18.8–22.9; head width 13.8–21.6; upper-jaw length 11.9–15.0; eye diameter 4.6–7.7; snout length 7.7–12.0; interorbital width 2.4–4.6; predorsal length 23.2–26.6; preanal length 46.3–52.4; caudal peduncle depth 7.7–9.4; caudal-peduncle length 6.0–9.4; pectoral-fin length 16.6–20.8; pelvic-fin length 9.1–14.0; first dorsal-fin spine length 5.9–7.6; fourth dorsal-fin spine length 6.5–8.2.

Color in alcohol: Ground color dark brown becoming light brown to tan ventrally; few distinct markings on large adults; orbital region of head and cirri almost black, a well-developed large brown spot covers dorsal half of opercle of some specimens; brown spots on branchiostegal membrane and pelvic base, spotting sometimes covering jaws below lips; body with some irregular mottling, a sprinkling of small, dark brown spots on belly and under axilla; spots vary in size from tiny dots to pupil-sized markings; dorsal fin brown, darker anteriorly, with line of dark pigment along proximal edge posteriorly; occasional specimens with 5 faint, black bars along dorsal-fin base that extend across fin; anal fin light brown with few dark-brown spots along proximal portion of membrane; caudal and pectoral fins uniformly dark brown; pelvic fins light brown. A 140 mm SL specimen (SIO 65–678) has a vertical white band crossing body at posterior extention of pectoral fin. Specimens less than 65 mm have distinctly banded caudal and pectoral fins and well-developed, dark-brown band at caudal fin base. No obvious sexual dichromatism present, though males tend to be darker and females may have more extensive ventral spotting.

Auchenionchus microcirrhis is a species of labrisomid blenny endemic to the Pacific waters off of Chile. It is a carnivorous species, eating fish, amphipods (juveniles), and decapods (adults). This species can reach 22.2 cm (8.7 in) in total length.