Istiblennius colei (Herre, 1934)
Cole's rockskipper

Family:  Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies), subfamily: Salariinae
Max. size:  11.8 cm SL (male/unsexed); 10.3 cm SL (female)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range - 2 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: known only from Culion and Panay islands, Philippines.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 13-15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-20; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 19-21. Dorsal fin XIII to XV, 18 to 20 (usually XIV); membrane between spinous and segmented-ray portions notched deeper than half length of first segmented ray; membrane from posteriormost ray attaching to point ranging from between dorsal edge of caudal peduncle well in advance of caudal-fin base to dorsal edge of caudal fin just posterior to base (usually anterior to caudal-fin base); posteriormost anal-fin ray not bound by membrane to caudal peduncle; skin covering anal-fin spines and anterior segmented rays not modified in adult males; pectoral-fin rays 14 or 15 (15 only unilaterally, in only 2 of 46 specimens examined for character); dorsal procurrent caudal fin rays 6 to 8 (typically 7), ventral procurrent rays 6 to 8 (typically 7), total procurrent rays 12 to 15 (typically 14), segmented rays 13. Lacking nape cirrus. Orbital cirrus consisting of flattened central stalk with up to 7 branches on each lateral and medial margin; less than orbital diameter in females, ranging from less than to slightly greater than orbital diameter in males. Nasal cirrus short, ranging from ragged-edged flap to palmate flap with up to 16 irregular branches; lacking posterior canines; ventral margin of upper lip entire; dorsal margin of lower lip varying from entire to weakly, irregularly, and almost unnoticeably crenulate (irregularities almost entirely restricted to corners of lip). Males with well-developed, blade-like crest on head; females lack crest, but females generally at 6.8 to 8.6 cm SL with faint, ridge-like crest precursors; male crest uniformly dusky or covered with dusky spots or granular vermiculations; remainder of head either almost uniformly dusky or with fine, dusky spots on opercle. Male max. size 11.8 cm SL; female max. size, 10.3 cm SL.
Biology:  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).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 September 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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