Hutchins' Blenny, Cirripectes hutchinsi Williams 1988


Other Names: Black Blenny

Hutchin's Blenny, Cirripectes hutchinsi, at Parker Point, Rottnest Island, Western Australia, March 2016. Source: Glen Whisson / iNaturalist.org. License: CC By Attribution-NonCommercial

Summary:
A large reddish, brown to blackish combtooth blenny with a variable pattern of spots and pale bands, a yellow to orange iris, and a fringe of tentacles above the rear of the eyes, and another fringe on the back of the head.

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2019, Cirripectes hutchinsi in Fishes of Australia, accessed 29 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/1055

Hutchins' Blenny, Cirripectes hutchinsi Williams 1988

More Info


Distribution

Endemic to Western Australia, from Rottnest Island to North West Cape. Inhabits the surge zone in shallow reefs, sheltering in limestone holes just below the intertidal zone, often on areas where the coral Pocillopora damicornis occurs.

Features

Dorsal fin XII-XIII, 13-14; Anal fin II, 15-16; Pectoral fin 15; Pelvic fin I, 4; Caudal fin procurrent rays 11-14; Vertebrae 10 + 20-21 = 30-31; Lateral line tubes 8-13; Gill rakers 23-29; Cirri, nuchal 35-42, nasal 8-93, supraorbital 12-29.
Dorsal fin membrane attached to caudal fin, with deep notch above last dorsal-fin spine, first dorsal-fin spine almost same or slightly higher than second spine. Lateral line without scales and scale-like flaps, canal ends below posterior to 13th dorsal-fin ray, usually on caudal-fin base. Upper lip crenulae 36-42. Cephalic sensory pore system complex. Four groups of nuchal cirri, each ventral-most group borne on slightly expanded nuchal flap. No pores at extra interorbital pore position. 

Biology

Sexes separate. Urogenital orifice of male genital papilla located basally between 2 widely separated slender filaments on a fleshy swelling behind anus; testes bulbous with length equal to its width.

Etymology

The species is named for Barry Hutchins, former Curator of Fishes at the Western Australian Museum.

Species Citation

Cirripectes hutchinsi Williams 1988, Indo-Pacific Fishes 17: 44, pl. 3(F-H). Type locality: Strickland Bay, Rottnest Island, WA. 

Author

Bray, D.J. 2019

Resources

Australian Faunal Directory

Hutchins' Blenny, Cirripectes hutchinsi Williams 1988

References


Carlson, B.A. 1980. A new Indo-Pacific fish of the genus Cirripectes (Blenniidae, Salariini). Pacific Science 34(4): 407-414.

Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp. (as Cirripectes sp.)

Williams, J.T. 1988. Revision and phylogenetic relationships of the blenniid fish genus Cirripectes. Indo-Pacific Fishes 17: 1-78 figs 1-21 col. pls 1-7

Williams, J.T. 2014. Cirripectes hutchinsi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T48342486A48358787. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T48342486A48358787.en. Downloaded on 30 January 2019.

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37408014

Conservation:IUCN Least Concern

Depth:1-22 m

Habitat:Reef associated

Max Size:14 cm

Native:Endemic

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