KEY TO SPECIES
1a First D spine distinctly longer than fourth;
total D elements 25-27; outer ray of V with dark
spot near base ...................................................... P. mitratus
1b First D spine not longer than 4th; total D elements
29-31; outer V ray without dark basal spot ................ P. breviceps
235.35 Petroscirtes breviceps
(Valenciennes, 1836)
Sabretooth blenny
Sabeltand-blennie
Blennechis breviceps Valenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1836: 283 (Bay of
Bengal). Dasson variabilis (non Cantor): Smith, SFSA No. 960*.
Dasson ancylodon (non Riippell): Smith, 1959: 233*. Petroscirtes
(Dasson) breviceps: Smith, 1975: 71; Smith-Vaniz, 1976: 38*.
D X-XI,18-21 = 29-31; A II,18-20; no cirri associated with preopercular
pores or pores on nape (simple cirri may be present on other areas of
head).
Broad, dark stripe from snout through eye to C; stripe
may be broken into segments. Attains 7 cm SL. Natal to
Japan and New Guinea.
235.35 Petroscirtes breviceps: top: 7.5 em SL; bottom: 9.5 em SL, both males
(after Smith-Vaniz, 1976). Head to show large canines.
Floral blenny
235.36 Petroscirtes mitratus
Ruppeli,1830
PLATE 116
Blom-blennie
Petroscirtes mitratus Riippell, 1830: 111, PI. 28, Fig. 1 (Red Sea); Smith,
SFSA No. 959*; 1959: 231 *; Smith-Vaniz, 1976: 32*.
D X-XI,14-17 = 25-27; A II,14-16. Simple cirri associated with preopercular pores and with pores on each side of nape, but not with midpredorsal
pore (simple cirri are also present on other areas of head).
235: BLENNIIDAE (BLENNIES)
Body and head speckled and mottled; 5-6 indistinct, dark
blotches or bands on body, usually with dark-edged ocelli
dorsally. Attains 6 cm SL. Widely distributed from Red Sea
to Gilbert and Samoa Ids.; south to Delagoa Bay.
235.36 Petroscirtes mitratus: top: 3.5 em SL female; bottom: 5.5 em SL male
(after Smith-Vaniz, 1976).
Genus Plagiotremus Gill, 1867
Ten species; 2 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Two pores in interorbital region; D spines
7-9; central C ray of adults distinctly darker
than adjacent rays ........................................... P. tapeinosoma
1b Four pores in interorbital region; D spines
10-12; central C ray of adults pigmented like
adjacent rays........................... .................... P. rhinorhynchos
235.37 Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos
(Bleeker, 1853)
PLATE 115
Twostripe blenny
Tweestreep-blennie
Petroskirtes rhinorhijnchos Bleeker, 1853: 273 (Wahia, Ceram). Aspidontus rhinorhynchos: Smith, SFSA No. 962*. Runula rhinorhynchos
Smith, 1959: 234*. Runula amblyrhynchus: Smith, 1959: 234*. Plagiotremus (Runula) rhinorhynchos: Smith-Vaniz, 1976: 133*.
D X-XII,31-37; A II,29-33; P 11-13; V 1,3.
235.37 Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos: top: 3.5 em SL juvenile; middle: 6.5 em
SL male; bottom: 6 em male (after Smith-Vaniz, 1976).
753
1a First D spine distinctly longer than fourth;
total D elements 25-27; outer ray of V with dark
spot near base ...................................................... P. mitratus
1b First D spine not longer than 4th; total D elements
29-31; outer V ray without dark basal spot ................ P. breviceps
235.35 Petroscirtes breviceps
(Valenciennes, 1836)
Sabretooth blenny
Sabeltand-blennie
Blennechis breviceps Valenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1836: 283 (Bay of
Bengal). Dasson variabilis (non Cantor): Smith, SFSA No. 960*.
Dasson ancylodon (non Riippell): Smith, 1959: 233*. Petroscirtes
(Dasson) breviceps: Smith, 1975: 71; Smith-Vaniz, 1976: 38*.
D X-XI,18-21 = 29-31; A II,18-20; no cirri associated with preopercular
pores or pores on nape (simple cirri may be present on other areas of
head).
Broad, dark stripe from snout through eye to C; stripe
may be broken into segments. Attains 7 cm SL. Natal to
Japan and New Guinea.
235.35 Petroscirtes breviceps: top: 7.5 em SL; bottom: 9.5 em SL, both males
(after Smith-Vaniz, 1976). Head to show large canines.
Floral blenny
235.36 Petroscirtes mitratus
Ruppeli,1830
PLATE 116
Blom-blennie
Petroscirtes mitratus Riippell, 1830: 111, PI. 28, Fig. 1 (Red Sea); Smith,
SFSA No. 959*; 1959: 231 *; Smith-Vaniz, 1976: 32*.
D X-XI,14-17 = 25-27; A II,14-16. Simple cirri associated with preopercular pores and with pores on each side of nape, but not with midpredorsal
pore (simple cirri are also present on other areas of head).
235: BLENNIIDAE (BLENNIES)
Body and head speckled and mottled; 5-6 indistinct, dark
blotches or bands on body, usually with dark-edged ocelli
dorsally. Attains 6 cm SL. Widely distributed from Red Sea
to Gilbert and Samoa Ids.; south to Delagoa Bay.
235.36 Petroscirtes mitratus: top: 3.5 em SL female; bottom: 5.5 em SL male
(after Smith-Vaniz, 1976).
Genus Plagiotremus Gill, 1867
Ten species; 2 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Two pores in interorbital region; D spines
7-9; central C ray of adults distinctly darker
than adjacent rays ........................................... P. tapeinosoma
1b Four pores in interorbital region; D spines
10-12; central C ray of adults pigmented like
adjacent rays........................... .................... P. rhinorhynchos
235.37 Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos
(Bleeker, 1853)
PLATE 115
Twostripe blenny
Tweestreep-blennie
Petroskirtes rhinorhijnchos Bleeker, 1853: 273 (Wahia, Ceram). Aspidontus rhinorhynchos: Smith, SFSA No. 962*. Runula rhinorhynchos
Smith, 1959: 234*. Runula amblyrhynchus: Smith, 1959: 234*. Plagiotremus (Runula) rhinorhynchos: Smith-Vaniz, 1976: 133*.
D X-XII,31-37; A II,29-33; P 11-13; V 1,3.
235.37 Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos: top: 3.5 em SL juvenile; middle: 6.5 em
SL male; bottom: 6 em male (after Smith-Vaniz, 1976).
753