D XII-XIII,18-20; A 11,18-20; P 14; nape cirri absent; ventral margin of
upper lip smooth; well-developed canine tooth at rear of lower jaw.
Dark spot present distally at front of D; vertical fins of
females with dark spots, fins of males more evenly coloured; body with about 6 or 7 irregular bands. Attains 10 cm
SL. Widely distributed in Indo-Pacific; south to Sodwana
Bay.
Impspringer
235.21 Istiblennius impudens
Smith, 1959
PLATE 114
Impspringer
Alticops edentulus (non Schneider): Smith , SFSA No. 971 *. Istiblennius
bel/us impudens Smith, 1959: 242, PI. 16, Fig. 1, PI. 14, Fig. M (St. Pierre
Id.); 1961: 571, No. 971*.
D XIII,20-21; A 11,20·22; P 14. No cirri on nape ; fleshy crest on top of
head of males; LL without vertical pairs of pores.
Males mostly uniform or with indications of several
paired bands on body and spots posteriorly; row of spots
from nape to mouth; segmented-ray portion of D with
diagonal dusky stripes. Females with indications of several
dusky bands on body; head, body and fins, except V,
densely covered with fine, dark specks. Attains 16 cm SL.
Western Indian Ocean, south to Sodwana Bay.
235.22 Istiblennius periophthalmus
(Valenciennes, 1836)
Bullethead rockskipper
Koeelkop-klipspringer
Salarias periophthalmus Valenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1836: 311
(Ticopia, Santa-Cruz Ids.). Alticops periophthalmus: Smith, SFSA No.
970*. Istiblennius periophthalmus: Smith, 1959: 243*.
D XIII,19-21; A 11,20-22; P 14; LL without vertical pairs of pores.
Males with up to 6 or 7 dusky bands on body; each band
containing 1 or a vertical pair of dark-margined, pale,
oblong spots; spinous D with dark spots, rayed D with
dusky lines. Body of females similar to that of males but less
distinctly marked, except for spotting on C peduncle; body
sometimes covered with fine dark specks. Attains 12 cm SL.
Widely distributed in Indo-Pacific; south to Durban.
235.22 Istiblennius periophthalmus: 13.5 em (N. Mozambique).
235: BLENNIIDAE (BLENNIES)
Genus Laiphognathus Smith, 1955
One species.
235.23 Laiphognathus multimaculatus
Smith,1955
PLATE 115
Spotty blenny
Vlekkies-blennie
Laiphognathus multimaculatus Smith, 1955: 24, Fig. 29 (Bazaruto Id.);
1959: 231; 1961: 571, No. 9583; Springer, 1972: 9*.
D XI-XII,18-21; A 1,19-25; P 12-14; V 1,2. Cirri on rim of both nostrils;
none on eye or nape.
Numerous small dark spots on pale body. Attains 4 cm
SL, usually less than 3 cm. East coast of Africa to New
Guinea and Solomon Ids.; south to Inhaca.
235.23 Laiphognathus multimaeulatus: 2.5 em SL male; anus region of female.
Genus Mimoblennius Smith-Vaniz & Springer, 1971
Four species; 1 in our area.
235.24 Mimoblennius rusi
Springer & Spreitzer, 1978
Rusi blenny
Rusi-blennie
Mimoblennius rusi Springer & Spreitzer, 1978: 1,4, Fig. 8 (Natal,
2n3'21"S,32°47'48"E).
D XII-XIII,17-18; A 11,20-21; P 14; V 1,3 (3rd ray hidden); upper jaw
teeth 34-38; lower jaw teeth 29-32; no posterior canines in jaws; no teeth
on vomer; simple cirrus on eye (rarely 2).
Head and body pale with dusky markings; occasionally
with several dusky bands on body; dark spot between 1st 2
D spines. Attains 4 cm SL. Known only from Sodwana Bay
area.
235.24 Mimoblennius rusi: 4 em SL male paratype (Natal; after Springer &
Spreitzer, 1978).
749
upper lip smooth; well-developed canine tooth at rear of lower jaw.
Dark spot present distally at front of D; vertical fins of
females with dark spots, fins of males more evenly coloured; body with about 6 or 7 irregular bands. Attains 10 cm
SL. Widely distributed in Indo-Pacific; south to Sodwana
Bay.
Impspringer
235.21 Istiblennius impudens
Smith, 1959
PLATE 114
Impspringer
Alticops edentulus (non Schneider): Smith , SFSA No. 971 *. Istiblennius
bel/us impudens Smith, 1959: 242, PI. 16, Fig. 1, PI. 14, Fig. M (St. Pierre
Id.); 1961: 571, No. 971*.
D XIII,20-21; A 11,20·22; P 14. No cirri on nape ; fleshy crest on top of
head of males; LL without vertical pairs of pores.
Males mostly uniform or with indications of several
paired bands on body and spots posteriorly; row of spots
from nape to mouth; segmented-ray portion of D with
diagonal dusky stripes. Females with indications of several
dusky bands on body; head, body and fins, except V,
densely covered with fine, dark specks. Attains 16 cm SL.
Western Indian Ocean, south to Sodwana Bay.
235.22 Istiblennius periophthalmus
(Valenciennes, 1836)
Bullethead rockskipper
Koeelkop-klipspringer
Salarias periophthalmus Valenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1836: 311
(Ticopia, Santa-Cruz Ids.). Alticops periophthalmus: Smith, SFSA No.
970*. Istiblennius periophthalmus: Smith, 1959: 243*.
D XIII,19-21; A 11,20-22; P 14; LL without vertical pairs of pores.
Males with up to 6 or 7 dusky bands on body; each band
containing 1 or a vertical pair of dark-margined, pale,
oblong spots; spinous D with dark spots, rayed D with
dusky lines. Body of females similar to that of males but less
distinctly marked, except for spotting on C peduncle; body
sometimes covered with fine dark specks. Attains 12 cm SL.
Widely distributed in Indo-Pacific; south to Durban.
235.22 Istiblennius periophthalmus: 13.5 em (N. Mozambique).
235: BLENNIIDAE (BLENNIES)
Genus Laiphognathus Smith, 1955
One species.
235.23 Laiphognathus multimaculatus
Smith,1955
PLATE 115
Spotty blenny
Vlekkies-blennie
Laiphognathus multimaculatus Smith, 1955: 24, Fig. 29 (Bazaruto Id.);
1959: 231; 1961: 571, No. 9583; Springer, 1972: 9*.
D XI-XII,18-21; A 1,19-25; P 12-14; V 1,2. Cirri on rim of both nostrils;
none on eye or nape.
Numerous small dark spots on pale body. Attains 4 cm
SL, usually less than 3 cm. East coast of Africa to New
Guinea and Solomon Ids.; south to Inhaca.
235.23 Laiphognathus multimaeulatus: 2.5 em SL male; anus region of female.
Genus Mimoblennius Smith-Vaniz & Springer, 1971
Four species; 1 in our area.
235.24 Mimoblennius rusi
Springer & Spreitzer, 1978
Rusi blenny
Rusi-blennie
Mimoblennius rusi Springer & Spreitzer, 1978: 1,4, Fig. 8 (Natal,
2n3'21"S,32°47'48"E).
D XII-XIII,17-18; A 11,20-21; P 14; V 1,3 (3rd ray hidden); upper jaw
teeth 34-38; lower jaw teeth 29-32; no posterior canines in jaws; no teeth
on vomer; simple cirrus on eye (rarely 2).
Head and body pale with dusky markings; occasionally
with several dusky bands on body; dark spot between 1st 2
D spines. Attains 4 cm SL. Known only from Sodwana Bay
area.
235.24 Mimoblennius rusi: 4 em SL male paratype (Natal; after Springer &
Spreitzer, 1978).
749