235: BLENNIIDAE (BLENNIES)
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Black spot or bar on P base; lateral stripe,
if present, widens posteriorly and extends
to end C; C of adults truncate; D spines
X-XII (XI-XII in 90% of specimens); total
D elements 37-39 (rarely 40) ......................... A. taeniatus tractus
1b No black spot or bar on P base; lateral stripe,
if present, uniformly wide, not extending to
end of C; C of adults lanceolate; D spines
IX-XI (IX-X in 95% of specimens); total
D elements 38-44 (rarely less than 40) .................... A. dussumieri
235.4 Aspidontus dussumieri
(Valenciennes, 1836)
PLATE 114
Floating blenny
Oryf-blennie
Blennechis dussumieri Valenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1836: 282
(Mauritius). Aspidontus (E) gorrorensis: Smith, 1959: 235. Aspidontus
(E) f/uctuans: Smith, 1959: 235*; 1961: 571, No. 96lb. Aspidontus (E)
wamiziensis Smith, 1959: 235* (Wamizi Id., Mozambique). Aspidontus
dussumieri: Smith-Vaniz, 1976: 63*.
D IX-XI,28-34; A II,25-30; P 13-15. Anterior part of D never elevated.
Attains 10 cm SL. Red Sea and Indian Ocean to
Tuamotus in Pacific; south to Knysna.
235.4 Aspidontus dussumieri: top: 4 em female; bottom: 6 em male (after
Smith-Vaniz, 1976).
235.5 Aspidontus taeniatus tractus
Fowler, 1903
PLATE 114
Mimic blenny
Nabootser-blennie
Aspidontus tractus Fowler, 1903: 170* (Zanzibar). Aspidontus Jilamentosus (non Valenciennes): Smith, SFSA No. 961*. Aspidontus taeniatus:
Smith, 1955: 25*. Aspidontus (Aspidontus) tractus: Smith, 1959: 235*;
1961: 571, No. 961a*. Blennechis Jilamentosus: Smith, 1959: 235*. Aspidontus taeniatus tractus: Smith-Vaniz, 1976: 62*.
D X-XII,26-28; A 11,25-28; P 13-15. Specimens 4-6 cm SL may have
high anterior Drays (15-30% SL).
235.5 Aspidontus taeniatus tractus: 6 em SL female (after Smith-Vaniz, 1976).
744
Attains 10 cm SL. An exact mimic of the cleaner wrasse
(Labroides dimidiatus) , the mimic blenny feeds on the fins
of unsuspecting fishes that mistake the blenny for a harmless cleaner wrasse. Red Sea and Indian Ocean south to
Durban Bay where it is frequently found inside empty bottles; replaced by A. t. taeniatus Quoy & Gaimard, on west
coast of Australia.
Genus Chalaroderma Norman, 1943
Two species, both in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a LL continuous anteriorly on upper portion of body,
consisting of separated tubes posteriorly on
midside and extending to or on C peduncle;
V 1,4 (spine and innermost 1 or 2 rays difficult
to see without dissection); interorbital width
equal to or greater than Yz eye diameter ...... :................. C. capito
Ib LL continuous, restricted to upper portion of
body, not extending posteriorly much beyond
tip of P; V 1,3 (spine and innermost ray difficult
to see without dissection); interorbital width
less than Yz eye diameter ................................... .. .... C. ocellata
235.6 Chalaroderma capito
(Valenciennes, 1836)
Looseskin blenny
Losvel-blennie
Blennius capito Valenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1836: 260 (Cape);
Bauchot, 1967: 10. Chalaroderma capito: Smith, SFSA No. 954*; 1964:
297; Penrith & Penrith, 1972: 76*; Bath, 1977: 180*.
D XII-XIV,17-21; A II,21-23; P 14; V 1,4.
Small specimens with about 5 broad, irregular bands on
body extending onto D. Large specimens irregularly
banded and mottled. Skin of large specimens flabby.
Attains 20 cm SL. Known only from Saldanha Bay to East
London.
235.6 Chalaroderma capito: 18 em (Cape).
235.7 Chalaroderma ocellata
(Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908)
Two-eyed blenny
Tweeoog-blennie
Blennius ocellatus Gilchrist & Thompson,1908: 103 (False Bay); Smith,
SFSA No. 953. Chalaroderma ocel/ata: Penrith & Penrith, 1972: 77*;
Bath, 1977: 180.
D XII-XIII,19-21; A II,21-22; P 14; V 1,3.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Black spot or bar on P base; lateral stripe,
if present, widens posteriorly and extends
to end C; C of adults truncate; D spines
X-XII (XI-XII in 90% of specimens); total
D elements 37-39 (rarely 40) ......................... A. taeniatus tractus
1b No black spot or bar on P base; lateral stripe,
if present, uniformly wide, not extending to
end of C; C of adults lanceolate; D spines
IX-XI (IX-X in 95% of specimens); total
D elements 38-44 (rarely less than 40) .................... A. dussumieri
235.4 Aspidontus dussumieri
(Valenciennes, 1836)
PLATE 114
Floating blenny
Oryf-blennie
Blennechis dussumieri Valenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1836: 282
(Mauritius). Aspidontus (E) gorrorensis: Smith, 1959: 235. Aspidontus
(E) f/uctuans: Smith, 1959: 235*; 1961: 571, No. 96lb. Aspidontus (E)
wamiziensis Smith, 1959: 235* (Wamizi Id., Mozambique). Aspidontus
dussumieri: Smith-Vaniz, 1976: 63*.
D IX-XI,28-34; A II,25-30; P 13-15. Anterior part of D never elevated.
Attains 10 cm SL. Red Sea and Indian Ocean to
Tuamotus in Pacific; south to Knysna.
235.4 Aspidontus dussumieri: top: 4 em female; bottom: 6 em male (after
Smith-Vaniz, 1976).
235.5 Aspidontus taeniatus tractus
Fowler, 1903
PLATE 114
Mimic blenny
Nabootser-blennie
Aspidontus tractus Fowler, 1903: 170* (Zanzibar). Aspidontus Jilamentosus (non Valenciennes): Smith, SFSA No. 961*. Aspidontus taeniatus:
Smith, 1955: 25*. Aspidontus (Aspidontus) tractus: Smith, 1959: 235*;
1961: 571, No. 961a*. Blennechis Jilamentosus: Smith, 1959: 235*. Aspidontus taeniatus tractus: Smith-Vaniz, 1976: 62*.
D X-XII,26-28; A 11,25-28; P 13-15. Specimens 4-6 cm SL may have
high anterior Drays (15-30% SL).
235.5 Aspidontus taeniatus tractus: 6 em SL female (after Smith-Vaniz, 1976).
744
Attains 10 cm SL. An exact mimic of the cleaner wrasse
(Labroides dimidiatus) , the mimic blenny feeds on the fins
of unsuspecting fishes that mistake the blenny for a harmless cleaner wrasse. Red Sea and Indian Ocean south to
Durban Bay where it is frequently found inside empty bottles; replaced by A. t. taeniatus Quoy & Gaimard, on west
coast of Australia.
Genus Chalaroderma Norman, 1943
Two species, both in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a LL continuous anteriorly on upper portion of body,
consisting of separated tubes posteriorly on
midside and extending to or on C peduncle;
V 1,4 (spine and innermost 1 or 2 rays difficult
to see without dissection); interorbital width
equal to or greater than Yz eye diameter ...... :................. C. capito
Ib LL continuous, restricted to upper portion of
body, not extending posteriorly much beyond
tip of P; V 1,3 (spine and innermost ray difficult
to see without dissection); interorbital width
less than Yz eye diameter ................................... .. .... C. ocellata
235.6 Chalaroderma capito
(Valenciennes, 1836)
Looseskin blenny
Losvel-blennie
Blennius capito Valenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1836: 260 (Cape);
Bauchot, 1967: 10. Chalaroderma capito: Smith, SFSA No. 954*; 1964:
297; Penrith & Penrith, 1972: 76*; Bath, 1977: 180*.
D XII-XIV,17-21; A II,21-23; P 14; V 1,4.
Small specimens with about 5 broad, irregular bands on
body extending onto D. Large specimens irregularly
banded and mottled. Skin of large specimens flabby.
Attains 20 cm SL. Known only from Saldanha Bay to East
London.
235.6 Chalaroderma capito: 18 em (Cape).
235.7 Chalaroderma ocellata
(Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908)
Two-eyed blenny
Tweeoog-blennie
Blennius ocellatus Gilchrist & Thompson,1908: 103 (False Bay); Smith,
SFSA No. 953. Chalaroderma ocel/ata: Penrith & Penrith, 1972: 77*;
Bath, 1977: 180.
D XII-XIII,19-21; A II,21-22; P 14; V 1,3.