| Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies), subfamily: Blenniinae |
| 5.01 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
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demersal; freshwater, |
| Africa: Ouerrha River, Sebou River basin, in Morocco (Ref. 89850, 126071). |
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Dorsal spines (total): 12-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-17; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 16-17; Vertebrae: 34-34. Diagnosis: Salariopsis atlantica differs from other known species of Salariopsis by the following combination of characters: head without diagonal rows of black dots on the cheeks running backwards and downwards from the lower edge of the eye as in S. economidisi and S. fluviatilis; number of teeth 13-15 on upper jaw and 14-16 on lower; supra-temporal canal with 3 cephalic pores; pre-opercular canal with 7-9 cephalic pores; circum-orbital canal with 8-9 cephalic pores (Ref. 89850). Supra-ocular tentacle thick and simple; 16-17 branched rays in the anal fin vs. 16-19 in both S. fluviatilis and S. economidisi; short pre-orbital distance; short anterior region (spiny) of the dorsal fin; 34 vertebrae (Ref. 89850).
Description: A small species that rarely reaches 60 mm; maximum body depth is 21.7-24.7% of standard length in males and 19.6-21.1% of standard length in females; head is wider in males, head length is similar in sexes, reaching 25.1-26.5% of standard length in males and 24.6-27.1% of standard length in females; the head length is greater than maximum body depth; pre-orbital distance is less relative to the other freshwater Salariopsis species, reaching 29.1-31.6% of head length in males and 29.5-30.7% of head length in females (Ref. 89850). Simple (unbranched) thick supra-ocular tentacle shorter than eye-diameter; conspicuous cephalic pores on sensory canal, especially infra-orbital; supra-temporal canal with 3 cephalic pores; pre-operculo-mandibular canal with 7-9 cephalic pores; orbital canal with 8-9 cephalic pores (Ref. 89850). Teeth: 19-22 on upper jaw and 13-15 on lower jaw (Ref. 89850). Ventral fins are inserted anterior to origin of the dorsal fin; pre-ventral length is 86.3-92.7% pre-dorsal length in males and 87.1-95.5% in females; pectoral fin is 23.9-24.1% of standard length in males and 24.9-26.5% in females; anterior dorsal fin height is 9.1-11.7% of dorsal fin length in males and 10.5-10.7% in females; dorsal fin with 12-13 spines and 16-17 soft rays; anal fin with 2 spines and 16-17 soft rays; pectoral fin with 10-11 soft rays; pelvic fin with 2 spines and 2-4 soft rays (Ref. 89850, 128181). High caudal peduncle, minimum body depth 10.9-12.4% of standard length in males and 10.9-11.0% of standard length in females (Ref. 89850).
Colouration: Blue cephalic pores and blue blotches in gular region (Ref. 89850). |
| The species inhabits streams with shallow and running waters and stony substrata (Ref. 89850). 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). The singularity of this species, as one of the two known Atlantic populations within the freshwater representatives of the genus Salaria, and the fact that it is restricted to a single basin, confers to Salaria atlantica the need of effective protection; for this reason it is considered that this species should be included in the IUCN category Endangered (EN), based on IUCN criteria (Ref. 89850). |
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Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 17 May 2021 (B1ab(i,ii,iii,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,v)) Ref. (130435)
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| harmless |
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