235: BLENNIIDAE (BLENNIES)
235.17 Istiblennius dussumieri
(Valenciennes, 1836)
Streaky rockskipper
Streepkol-klipspringer
Salarias dussumieri Valenciennes , in Cuv. & Val. , 1836: 310 (Malabar).
Halmablennius dussumieri: Smith , SFSA No. 975*; 1959: 244*. Halma·
blennius oortii: Smith, SFSA No. 976. Halmablennius striatomaculatus:
Smith, 1959: 244 *. lstiblennius striatomaculatus: Penrith & Penrith, 1972:
81 *.
D XII·XIII, 19·22; A II, 18·22; P 13·14; nape cirri absent; minute canine
tooth usually present at rear of lower jaw; males with fleshy crest on top of
head, females lack crest; LL without vertical pairs of pores.
Most consistent marking is dark spot distally between 1st
2 D spines in both sexes; male with about 6 pairs of dusky
bands on body and broad dusky margins to segmented-ray
portions of D and A; body bands in female tend to form vertical rows of dusky spots; numerous rows of dusky spots on
D and C; A evenly dusky. Attains 10 cm SL. Widely distributed in Indo-Pacific; south to Bashee River mouth, Transkei.
235.17 Istiblennius dussumieri: top: 12 em male (Seychelles); bottom: 8 em
female (Inhaca Id.).
235.18 Istiblennius edentulus
(Schneider, 1801)
Rippled rockskipper
Gerimpelde klipspringer
Blennius edentulus Schneider, in Bloch & Schneider, 1801: 172
(Huahaine). Alticops oryx (non Ehrenberg): Smith, SFSA No. 972*.lsti·
blennius edentulus: Smith , 1959: 243*; Penrith & Penrith, 1972: 80*.
D XIII ,20-21 ; A II ,21-23 ; P 14. Cirrus on each side of nape; fleshy crest
on top of head of males, none on females (very large females may have a
low fleshy ridge) ; LL without vertical pairs of pores .
Males darkly dusky with about 5-6 pairs of bands on
body, and diagonal, pale stripes in D; females similar to
males but paler, posterior band pairs broken into numerous
spots; D spotted; very large females sometimes approximating male colour pattern. Attains 13 cm SL. Widely
distributed in Indo-Pacific; south to East London .
748
235.18 Istiblennius edentulus: top: 12 em female (Juan de Nova Id.); bottom:
11 em male with crest on head (S. Mozambique).
235.19 Istiblennius flaviumbrinus
(Ruppeli, 1830)
PLATE 116
Pallid rockskipper
Sleek klipspringer
Salarias f/aviumbrinus Riippell, 1830: 113 (Mohila , Red Sea). Halma·
blennius unicolor: Smith , SFSA No. 973*. Halmablennius f/aviumbrinus:
Smith , 1959: 245*'
D XIII,17-19; A II,16·19; P 14; V 1,3-4 (4th ray much reduced and difficult to find) ; nape cirri absent; no canine teeth in lower jaw; males with
fleshy crest on top of head, females lack crest; LL without vertical pairs of
pores.
Well-preserved colour pattern usually indicates distinctive dark spot posterior to eye, followed by paler area, then
dark crescentic mark (concave anteriorly); alternating
broad and pale bands on upper lip; dark band or irregular
mark on P base; about 5 or 6 irregular, dark pairs of bands
on body; D with numerous dusky markings forming diffuse
stripes; A darkly dusky in males, pale in females; attains 12
cm SL. Red Sea and Indian Ocean to Persian Gulf; south to
Delagoa Bay.
235.19 Istiblennius flaviumbrinus: 10 em female (Natal; photo by J. E. Randall).
235.20 Istiblennius gibbifrons
(Quoy & Gaimard, 1836)
PLATE 116
Picture rockskipper
Prent-klipspringer
Salarias gibbifrons Quoy & Gaimard , in Cuv. & Val. , 1836: 312
(Hawaiian Ids.). Alticops gibbifrons: Smith , SFSA No. 970a.lstiblennius
gibbifrons insolitus Smith , 1959: 242 , PI. 16, Fig. 2 (Assumption Id.) ;
1961: 571, No. 970a; Winterbottom , 1976: 66.
235.17 Istiblennius dussumieri
(Valenciennes, 1836)
Streaky rockskipper
Streepkol-klipspringer
Salarias dussumieri Valenciennes , in Cuv. & Val. , 1836: 310 (Malabar).
Halmablennius dussumieri: Smith , SFSA No. 975*; 1959: 244*. Halma·
blennius oortii: Smith, SFSA No. 976. Halmablennius striatomaculatus:
Smith, 1959: 244 *. lstiblennius striatomaculatus: Penrith & Penrith, 1972:
81 *.
D XII·XIII, 19·22; A II, 18·22; P 13·14; nape cirri absent; minute canine
tooth usually present at rear of lower jaw; males with fleshy crest on top of
head, females lack crest; LL without vertical pairs of pores.
Most consistent marking is dark spot distally between 1st
2 D spines in both sexes; male with about 6 pairs of dusky
bands on body and broad dusky margins to segmented-ray
portions of D and A; body bands in female tend to form vertical rows of dusky spots; numerous rows of dusky spots on
D and C; A evenly dusky. Attains 10 cm SL. Widely distributed in Indo-Pacific; south to Bashee River mouth, Transkei.
235.17 Istiblennius dussumieri: top: 12 em male (Seychelles); bottom: 8 em
female (Inhaca Id.).
235.18 Istiblennius edentulus
(Schneider, 1801)
Rippled rockskipper
Gerimpelde klipspringer
Blennius edentulus Schneider, in Bloch & Schneider, 1801: 172
(Huahaine). Alticops oryx (non Ehrenberg): Smith, SFSA No. 972*.lsti·
blennius edentulus: Smith , 1959: 243*; Penrith & Penrith, 1972: 80*.
D XIII ,20-21 ; A II ,21-23 ; P 14. Cirrus on each side of nape; fleshy crest
on top of head of males, none on females (very large females may have a
low fleshy ridge) ; LL without vertical pairs of pores .
Males darkly dusky with about 5-6 pairs of bands on
body, and diagonal, pale stripes in D; females similar to
males but paler, posterior band pairs broken into numerous
spots; D spotted; very large females sometimes approximating male colour pattern. Attains 13 cm SL. Widely
distributed in Indo-Pacific; south to East London .
748
235.18 Istiblennius edentulus: top: 12 em female (Juan de Nova Id.); bottom:
11 em male with crest on head (S. Mozambique).
235.19 Istiblennius flaviumbrinus
(Ruppeli, 1830)
PLATE 116
Pallid rockskipper
Sleek klipspringer
Salarias f/aviumbrinus Riippell, 1830: 113 (Mohila , Red Sea). Halma·
blennius unicolor: Smith , SFSA No. 973*. Halmablennius f/aviumbrinus:
Smith , 1959: 245*'
D XIII,17-19; A II,16·19; P 14; V 1,3-4 (4th ray much reduced and difficult to find) ; nape cirri absent; no canine teeth in lower jaw; males with
fleshy crest on top of head, females lack crest; LL without vertical pairs of
pores.
Well-preserved colour pattern usually indicates distinctive dark spot posterior to eye, followed by paler area, then
dark crescentic mark (concave anteriorly); alternating
broad and pale bands on upper lip; dark band or irregular
mark on P base; about 5 or 6 irregular, dark pairs of bands
on body; D with numerous dusky markings forming diffuse
stripes; A darkly dusky in males, pale in females; attains 12
cm SL. Red Sea and Indian Ocean to Persian Gulf; south to
Delagoa Bay.
235.19 Istiblennius flaviumbrinus: 10 em female (Natal; photo by J. E. Randall).
235.20 Istiblennius gibbifrons
(Quoy & Gaimard, 1836)
PLATE 116
Picture rockskipper
Prent-klipspringer
Salarias gibbifrons Quoy & Gaimard , in Cuv. & Val. , 1836: 312
(Hawaiian Ids.). Alticops gibbifrons: Smith , SFSA No. 970a.lstiblennius
gibbifrons insolitus Smith , 1959: 242 , PI. 16, Fig. 2 (Assumption Id.) ;
1961: 571, No. 970a; Winterbottom , 1976: 66.