Cirripectes imitator Williams, 1985
Imitator blenny
Cirripectes imitator
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies), subfamily: Salariinae
Max. size:  9.3 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 10 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Shirahama, Japan and the Ogasawara Islands to Batan Islands, northern Philippines.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-15; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 14-16; Vertebrae: 30-30. Diagnosis: Dorsal fin XII, 14, membrane attached to caudal fin, with deep notch above last spine, first spine almost same or slightly higher than second; anal fin II, 15; pectoral rays 15; pelvic fin I, 4; caudal fin procurrent rays 11-14. Vertebrae 10 + 20. LL, without scales and scalelike flaps; LL tubes 7-14, canal ends below posterior to 9th dorsal ray, usually on caudal-fin base. Lower lip smooth mesially, plicate laterally. Upper lip crenulae 36-50. Gill rakers 24-27. Cephalic sensory pore system complex. Cirri, nuchal 40-59, supraorbital 13-46, nasal 9-93; 4 groups of nuchal cirri, 2 groups on 1 side rarely connected by a low basal membrane, ventralmost group on each side borne on enlarged nuchal flap. Body depth at anal-fin origin 3.5-4.0 in SL. Morphometric and meristic characters does not vary geographically. Overall dark brown; female with pale grey polygonal spots; male with irregular bars and yellow tips on caudal fin and anterior dorsal spines; irregular pupil- sized spots on head; iris with yellow-ringed pupil (Ref. 529, 90102).
Biology:  Adults inhabit shallow coral and rocky reefs (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


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