BLENNIIDAE


Omobranchus elongatus, 3.9 cm SL
(photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin)


Omobranchus elongatus
(Peters, 1855)
Cloister Blenny

D XI-XIII (usually XII), 18-21; A II, 20-23; P1 13; P2 I, 2.

Body elongate. No cirri or tentacles and crest on head. Single canine tooth present on both jaws posteriorly. Edge of lips smooth. Lower lip with a small, posterior, ventral-projecting flap. Caudal fin lacking branched rays. Color: body reddish gray with curved and oblique gray bars and white light red elliptical spot on opercle; small dark spots sometimes present on ventral part of head and on chest; a dusky spot in dorsal fin between 9th and 13th soft rays in males. Size: attaining to 6.6 cm. Distribution: widespread in Indo-West Pacific, including east coast of Africa, Andaman Sea and Iriomote Island. Remarks: found in rocky reefs of estuaries. (Hisashi Imamura)