Krauss' Blenny

In life, it is dark brown becoming yellowish posteriorly.

Oviparous, distinct pairing (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 7 - 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21 - 24; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 20 - 22

Cryptic among coral and rubble on reef flats and upper portion of seaward reefs (Ref. 1602).

Adults are cryptic among coral and rubble on reef flats and upper portion of seaward reefs (Ref. 1602). Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive (Ref. 205), and are attached to the substrate via a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal (Ref. 94114). Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters (Ref. 94114).

Enchelyurus kraussi (Klunzinger)

Peteroscirtes kraussi Klunzinger, 1871, p. 497 [Kosseir, Egypt, ISZZ 8029, lectotype].

Enchelyurus analis H. M. Smith, 1934, p. 318 [Koh Tao, Gulf of Siam, KUMF 0175].

The syntypes of Petroscirtes kraussi comprise 5 specimens (NFIS 1662, two specimens in poor condition; ZMB 8029, two male specimens, 37.4–44.6 mm SL; and ZMB 10506, one female, 35.5 mm SL). I here designate the 37.4 mm male specimen of ZMB 8029 as lectotype. It has the following characters; dorsal fin VII, 23; anal fin II, 20; pectoral fins 15–15; vertebrae 10 + 25; I–30–I teeth in each jaw.

In the original description Enchelyurus analis was compared only with E. ater. I have not seen the holotype of E. analis but the illustration accompanying the description depicts a male E. kraussi, as evidenced by the pattern of stripes on the head and anal fin.

Aoyagi (1954) discussed Enchelyurus kraussi but used the name Enchelyurus ater. He gave an illustration of a male E. kraussi, but the illustration was captioned “Lepidoblennius marmoratus ishigakiensis n. subsp.” (Lepidoblennius is a genus of Tripterygiidae). For a figure of a tripterygiid in the same paper he gave the caption “Enchelyurus ater (Günther).” Obviously the figures and captions were switched. The specimen Aoyagi reported on from Okinawa represents the northernmost record for E. kraussi (this record is not included on Figure 5).

E. kraussi is known from the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and western Pacific Ocean (Figure 5). There is a tendency for the number of dorsal fin spines to increase in an east to west direction (Table 1). The increase in the number of dorsal fin spines continues eastward into the contiguous populations of E. ater and from E. ater northward into E. brunneolus, the other members of the E. kraussi species group. One might interpret these three species as representing only populations of a single species, but sharp differences in the nature of the color pattern of mature males of the three species convinces me otherwise. In addition, E. brunneolus has fewer pectoral fin rays than the other two forms.

Specimens of E. kraussi from Guam and Saipan are distinguished from specimens from other localities in that the males lack stripes on the head. The Guam and Saipan populations are well separated geographically from the other populations of E. kraussi. Though the color pattern difference of the Guam and Saipan populations may indicate a species difference, I defer such recognition until more specimens from throughout the range of E. kraussi are available.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.–Gulf of Aqaba: Sinai coast, HUJ 642 (27.4), HUJ 687 (33.5), HUJ 686 (27.2), UTAI 5765 (13.0), UTAI 4544 (18.3), USNM 204538 (14.7), USNM 204537 (14.0). Egypt: Kosseir, ZMB 8029 (2: 37.4–44.6, smaller specimen herein designated lectotype of Petroscirtes kraussi), ZMB 10506 (35.5), NFIS 1662 (2, poor condition). Sudan: Port Sudan, BMNH 1968.11.27.14 (25.9). Gulf of Aden: Bay of Djibouti, MNHN 1940–318 (24.5); Berbera, BMNH 1954.4.26.219–220 (2: 29.3–33.5). Seychelles Islands: RU 2332 (3: 11.4–31.8), ZSZM 14779 (8: 22.2–31.3). Aldabra: RU 2331 (34.8). South Viet Nam: Hon Mien Island, CAS GVF2789 (28.6); Hon Lon Island, CAS 24695 (27.8). Gulf of Thailand: Goh Luem, CAS GVF2648 (21.0). Indonesia: Pulo Mega, Mentawei Islands, USNM 200609 (28.9); Moluccas, Tomahu Island, USNM 99367 (29.0). Taiwan: Southwest tip, USNM 204595 (6. 27.2–33.2). Philippine Islands: Canino Island, USNM 161422 (30.2). Marianas Islands: Guam, CAS GVF1874 (5: 24.5–27.1), CAS 24693 (23.2), CAS GVF1859 (20: 14.4–29.4); Saipan, CAS GVF790 (29.2), USNM 195812 (19.8). New Guinea: Kiriwina, Trobriand Islands, USNM 205708 (2: 20.0–28.5). Australia: Great Barrier Reef, One Tree Island, USNM 201831 (2: 36.0–41.0), USNM 204593 (31.3), USNM 204594 (31.6), USNM 204592 (9: 30.3–36.2, USNM 201840 (37.0), USNM 204082 (26.2), USNM 201370 (22: 23.0–36.0).

Enchelyurus petersi (Kossmann and Räuber)

Petroscirtes petersi Kossmann and Räuber, 1877, p. 21 [Red Sea; holotype lost].

The holotype of E. petersi is apparently lost (Klausewitz, personal communication). The illustration given with the description is readily recognizable as a relatively common species found in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Aqaba and Gulf of Suez. Kossmann and Räuber reported the type-locality as “Red Sea.” All other specimens known to me are from Eilat, Gulf of Aqaba, and Tor (also known as Et Tur) and Ras Massala, Gulf of Suez. Kossmann and Räuber reported that some of their collections came from Tor and, with the exception of a few sharks and echeneids, the remainder of their collections came from Massawa and the Dahlak Islands in the southern Red Sea. It would be desirable to know if E. petersi occurs in the Red Sea proper.

E. petersi is not only the most distinctive species of Enchelyurus but it is readily recognizable from all other species in the Omobranchini by its striped color pattern.

E. petersi is found primarily around rocks, in empty worm tubes, and around sea urchins (Diadema) very close to shore. The pale portions of the body vary from cream colored to bright yellow or yellow-green, and the species is quite visible in its habitat. In contrast, I have never seen E. kraussi (which is sympatric with E. petersi) in nature.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.–Gulf of Aqaba: Eilat, HUJ E61–9 (30.8), HUJ 60/90.34 (2: 33.0–36.6), USNM 204540 (6: 38.6–53.5, including one specimen cleared and stained). Gulf of Suez: ZSZM 14776 (44.7); Tor, USNM 204539 (2: 28.4–35.7), Ras Massala, HUJ SLR2908 (31.2).

Haptogenys, new genus

DIAGNOSIS.–No cirri on head; dorsal and anal fins not attached to caudal fin; frontal bones separate in adults; 4 circumorbital bones; kinethmoid present; postcleithra normal; 12 dorsal fin spines; 13 pectoral fin rays; nasal bones joined dorsomesially; 8 sensory pores in circumorbital series; 2 sensory pores in mandibular series; 13 sensory pores in supratemporal-preoperculo-mandibular series, 4 interorbital sensory pores; posterior nostril present, normal; gill opening extending ventrally to point opposite level of ventralmost pectral fin ray; shortest pelvic fin ray less than half length of longest.

RELATIONSHIP.–Haptogenys is unique in the Omobranchini in having large trabeculate nasal bones that meet dorsomesially (as opposed to separate, moderate-sized, slender nasals) and a ventral mouth similar to that found in the nemophinin genus Plagiotremus Gill (=Runula Jordan and Bollman). These characters are specializations superimposed on a basically Omobranchus-like body. The similarity of the head shape and jaws of Haptogenys to those of Plagiotremus apparently is the result of similar feeding habits. The stomach contents of the single known specimen of Haptogenys contained fin rays and membrane from fishes (other Omobranchini feed on small invertebrates). Plagiotremus feeds on the scales and epidermis of fishes.

ETYMOLOGY.–From the Greek hapto, “join,” and genys, “jaw,” in reference to the suturing joint of the dentary bones of the Omobranchini; gender feminine.

TYPE-SPECIES.–Haptogenys quadripora, new species.

分布於印度-太平洋區，由紅海至馬里安納群島，北至日本，南至澳洲大堡礁。台灣分布於南部、東北部及綠島等海域。

小型魚類，僅具學術研究價值。

體延長而稍側扁，頭稍縱扁；間鰓蓋骨之腹後側有突起，向後超過上舌骨之後緣。頭頂無冠膜；鼻孔前無皮瓣。上下唇平滑；前上頜齒40枚以下，上下頜側後方各具一犬齒。下頜感覺孔2枚。鰓裂向下可達胸鰭基中央約第11鰭條附近。D. VII, 22-24；A. II, 19-21；P. 15；V. I, 2。背鰭無缺刻；背、臀鰭與尾鰭相連，連接部份達尾鰭全長之1/3以上；尾鰭鰭條不分枝。 頭、身體、背鰭、臀鰭全為黑褐色，越往體後側，顏色則偏黃；頭側有7條以之上傾斜平行黑紋；臀鰭近鰭緣有紅黑色縱紋，鰭緣白色；腹鰭、胸鰭、尾鰭及背鰭、臀鰭的後方軟條為深色。活魚時臀鰭條紋為亮藍色，頭側面、腹部、尾鰭及背鰭、臀鰭的後方軟條為黃色。

主要於潮間區的岩礁、珊瑚礁周圍。

Enchelyurus kraussii, Krauss' blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny found in coral reefs in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. This species grows to a length of 4.5 centimetres (1.8 in) SL. The specific name honours the German scientist, traveller and collector Christian Ferdinand Friedrich Krauss (1812-1890).