Description

Dorsal spines (total): 15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 18. Pectoral-fin rays 15-16, at least some branched; body whitish with 6 distinct vertical orange-brown bars (live color) or dusky bands (color in alcohol), becoming progressively darker posteriorly, the darkest across the caudal peduncle; caudal peduncle bar broad and continuous, encircling the peduncle; with white band at base of caudal fin; anal fin whitish with 4 broad dusky zones; pored lateral-line scales 14-15; anal fin rays 18; second dorsal fin with black spot basally, capped by a bright orange arc in life.

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Blenniiformes

Family: Tripterygiidae

Genus: Enneapterygius

Species: Enneapterygius melanospilus Randall, 1995

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Adults are found on rocky or rubble bottom. Stomach and gut contents reveal pycnogonid, ostracods, copepods, and isopods (Ref. 12476). Eggs are hemispherical and covered with numerous sticky threads that anchor them in the algae on the nesting sites (Ref. 240). Larvae are planktonic which occur primarily in shallow, nearshore waters (Ref. 94114).

Habitat

demersal

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Threat to Humans

Harmless