Scartichthys variolatus (Valenciennes 1836)

Dentary incisors 80-93; segmented dorsal-fin rays 18; pupil-size black spot on first and sometimes second interspinal membrane; and pupil-size white spots (brownish red in life) on head and body.

Oviparous, distinct pairing (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 11 - 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17 - 18; Anal spines: 2; Analsoft rays: 19 - 20

Found on rocky bottoms. 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).

Scartichthys variolatus (Valenciennes)

Salarias variolatus Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1836:346 [Juan Fernandez Island; holotype MNHN 4410].

Salarias rubropunctatus Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1836:348 [Juan Fernandez Island; lectotype MNHN A.2038, new designation] [new synonymy].

Ophioblennius fernandezensis Clark, 1938:184 [San Juan Bautista [Cumberland] Bay, Juan Fernandez Islands] [new synonymy].

DIAGNOSIS.—A species of Scartichthys with the following combination of characters: 80–93 dentary incisors, 18 segmented dorsal-fin rays, pupil-size black spot on first and sometimes second interspinal membrane, and pupil-size white spots (brownish red in life) on head and body.

DESCRIPTION.—Dorsal fin XI-XII (XII in 98.6% of specimens), 17–18 (18 in 91.2%); anal fin II, 19–20 (19 in 56.9%); total procurrent caudal-fin rays 12–14 (1 specimen with 16); pelvic fin I,4; vertebrae 10 + 23–25 (24 in 94.2%) = 33–35 (34 in 94.2%); last pleural ribs on vertebral centrum 11; last epipleural rib on vertebral centrum 16–19 (17–18 in 91.2%); anal pterygiophores 2–1–1, 1–2–1, or 1–1–2 (1–1–2 in 76.8%); nuchal cirri 20–95 (20–77 in 95.2%); supraorbital cirri 22–116 (19–74 in 91.7%); nasal cirri 8–31 (10–23 in 90.0%); LL tubes 19–21 (20–21 in 90.0%); last LL tube on base of caudal fin; no scale-like flaps along LL; lower lip entire mesially (plicate laterally); gill rakers 21–28 (based on 16 specimens); pseudobranchial filaments on one side 10–15 (based on 16 specimens); premaxillary teeth 200–223 (based on 2 specimens); dentary teeth 80–93 (based on 30 specimens); upper lip crenulae approximately 35–43; nuchal cirri in 2 widely separated transverse rows on either side of nape; first dorsal-fin spine of adults approximately equal to second in males and females; dorsal-fin membrane deeply incised above last dorsal-fin spine; dorsal-fin membrane attached to caudal peduncle in advance of caudal fin in adults; cephalic pore system complex (3 or more pores at most positions; number of pores increases with increasing SL); male genital papilla with urogenital orifice located basally between 2 short protuberances on a fleshy swelling behind anus (Figure 14E); testes elongate, length more than twice width; maximum SL about 150 mm; pupil-size black spot on distal portion of membrane between first and second dorsal-fin spines (93.5% of specimens) and occasionally a second spot on membrane between second and third spines (6.5%).

The smallest mature female (ova ~0.8 mm diameter) examined is ~100 mm SL. Males mature by ~100 mm SL.

COLOR IN ALCOHOL.—Subadults and adults of both sexes (Figure 19 shows a female) have a dark brown background coloration with pupil-size pale spots over head and body, and 7 to 9 broad, faint, dark-brown bars on body; dorsal fin with pupil-size black spot on first interspinal membrane, remainder of fin dusky with small pale spots, dorsal and anal fins with distal ends of elements pale tipped; caudal fin brown with small pale spots; black spot about half diameter of pupil on head behind posterior margin of eye.

COLOR IN LIFE.—I have not seen the life colors of this species, but Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes (1836:347) described (based on a drawing “made by Gay”) the spots on the body as brownish red. A color illustration (presumably the one rendered by Gay) in the Cuvier and Valenciennes manuscript material in the library of the Muséum National d′Histoire Naturelle, Paris, clearly shows the brownish red spots described in their 1836 publication. Other colors are the same as described for specimens in alcohol.

COMPARISONS.—Scartichthys variolatus differs from other Scartichthys in that adults have 80–93 dentary teeth. Scartichthys variolatus also differs from S. gigas in typically having 18 segmented dorsal-fin rays (versus 17 modally). The distinctive color pattern of Scartichthys variolatus comprising pale (brownish red in life) spots on a dark background will distinguish this form from all other Scartichthys.

DISTRIBUTION.—Scartichthys variolatus is an island endemic known only from San Felix and San Ambrosio Islands (26°S), and Juan Fernandez Islands (33°S; Figure 16). It has been collected from rocky bottoms at depths of 1–9 m.

ETYMOLOGY.—The specific epithet, derived from the late Latin variola (smallpox or spotted), refers to the pattern of spots on the head and body.

NOMENCLATURAL

Scartichthys variolatus is a species of combtooth blenny found around islands in the southeast Pacific ocean, the Desventuradas Islands and the Juan Fernandez Islands. This species reaches a length of 16.3 centimetres (6.4 in) SL.