Atrosalarias fuscus (Rüppell, 1838)
photo by Field, R.

Family:  Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies), subfamily: Salariinae
Max. size:  14.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 12 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific Ocean: including the Red Sea.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-20; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 18-20; Vertebrae: 33-35. Description: Dorsal fin IX-XI (usually X), 18-20, with short (9.2-14.2%SL) posteriormost ray; anal fin II, 18-20 (rarely 20); pectoral rays 15-18; pelvic fin I, 2; caudal fin segmented-rays 10-14; last dorsal ray joined to caudal fin but only scarcely; last anal ray may be barely connected also to the caudal fin but more often free. Supraorbital tentacle, slender and thread-like. Body deep, 3 in SL. (Ref. 90102). Several geographical variations. Adults almost black and some populations have a reddish tail. Juveniles often bright yellow (Ref. 48636).
Biology:  Adults inhabit sheltered, shallow reefs, hiding among live or dead coral branches (Ref. 1602). From estuaries to outer reef lagoons (Ref. 48636), 2-12 m deep. Solitary (Ref. 90102). 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: 24 March 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Outside distributional range, occurrence needs further confirmation. Also Ref. 48613, 53416.


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