Helcogramma obtusirostris (Klunzinger, 1871)
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 18 - 19; Vertebrae: 35 - 36. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D III + XII - XIII, 9-10 (usually XIII spines or 10 rays); A I, 18-19 (usually 19); pectoral rays 16 (usually 2, 7, 7). Second dorsal fin twice higher than the first. Lateral line tube scales 20-23 (usually 21-22), extending to the junction of second and third dorsal fins; total lateral scales 36-38 (usually 37-38); transverse scales 7/5. Dentary pores 4 + 1 + 4. Maxilla reaches vertical through centre of pupil; orbital cirrus small and simple. Nape and belly naked; scales do not extend to bases of first dorsal and anterior of anal fins; scale rows 2 on base of caudal fin. Pelvic rays united by membrane for half shorter ray, longest ray reaching vent. Head length 3.3-3.7 (3.5) in SL. Body translucent underwater and green when freshly out of water. Underwater, male head red on upper side and with many melanophores below eyes, extending onto base of pectoral fin; light blue line on cheek with blue patch below; body ‘with H’-bars red and streaks white, belly pinkish-red; dorsal fins translucent with white and red streaks, pelvic and caudal fins pinkish, pectoral fins translucent with red and white marks; females similar to males but overall largely white and without the distinctive pigmentation on the head and belly. Out of water, males overall mottled green, interconnecting areas darker, suffused with dull red dorso-anteriorly, head dark, eye and to branchiostegal membrane black; cheek stripe iridescent blue from lower lip through corner of mouth to preopercle, margin broad black; back saddle patches 4 pale narrow from dorsal fin base to midline, 2 below second dorsal fin and 2 below third dorsal fin; midline spots pale; belly pink; pectoral-fin base with red spot above and below, the lower one bluish anteriorly; pelvic fins dark pink proximally; first dorsal fin dusky with orange tinge, darkest on the margin, and with spot, small black at base of membrane between first and second dorsal fins; dorsal and caudal fins dusky, anal fin evenly dark. Females dull green and paler ventrally, zigzag pattern formed by dark areas; median fins with light sprinkle of pigmentation, first dorsal fin spots small black, basal third of dorsal and entire anal fins white (Ref. 88983). Measurements in %SL: head length 30.2 (26.7-33.6); eye diameter 10.2 (7.8-12.7); seventh pectoral ray 30.6 (26.6-34.1); upper jaw length 13.3 (11.6-15.0); longest pelvic ray 24.2 (19.3-29.4) (Ref. 6211).
Common Names
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Teleostei
Order: Blenniiformes
Family: Tripterygiidae
Genus: Helcogramma
Species: Helcogramma obtusirostris (Klunzinger, 1871)
Climate Zone
Location
Biology
Adults are found at depths of 6 m and shallower on exposed rocky coasts (Ref. 90102). 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
brackish