BLENNIIDAE


Cirripectes filamentosus, 4.9 cm SL
(photo by Richard Winterbottom)


Cirripectes filamentosus
(Alleyne and Macleay, 1877)
Filamentous Blenny

D XII (rarely XI or XIV), 13-16; A II, 14-17; P1 15; P2 I, 3-4.

Body short and deep. Cirri on nape in 4 groups, total number generally 25-30. Three to 4 simple cirri on nostril and eye. Posterior dentary canines present. Total upper jaw teeth less than twice as many as total lower jaw teeth. Most dorsal spines filamentous in adults; anterior ones longest. Several caudalfin rays branched. Color: body dusky entirely; snout and cheek with orangered dots; dorsal spines and rays primarily orange-red, this color most evident distally on spines; lower pectoral and caudal-fin rays usually orange-yellow. Size: attaining to 10 cm. Distribution: Indo-West Pacific, ranging from east coast Africa to Taiwan and to northern Queensland. Remarks: inhabits inshore reef cavities, frequently where there is wave action. (Hisashi Imamura)