Teleostei (teleosts) >
Blenniiformes (Blennies) >
Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies) > Salariinae
Etymology: Istiblennius: Greek, istios = sail + Greek, blennios = mucus (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Franz Steindachner (1834–1919) was an Austrian zoologist who specialised in herpetology and ichthyology. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal. Tropical
Western Indian Ocean: Kenya south to Mozambique, Juan de Nova (island off Madagascar), northern Madagascar, Mauritius, and La Digue , Seychelles.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 11.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9962)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 12 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16 - 25; Anal soft rays: 23 - 25. Males with spotted occipital crest; crest absent in females; caudal peduncle in males with dark stripes restricted to posterior 45% of body; peduncle in females with dark spots that may also be present anterior to peduncle; dark pinstripes in females restricted to posterior 45% of body excluding spotted area; total dorsal fin elements in males 36-38, in females 35 to 38; total vertebrae 41 to 43, 45 (both sexes; 45 in only one male).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); 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).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, distinct pairing (Ref. 205).
Springer, V.G. and J.T. Williams, 1994. The Indo-West Pacific blenniid fish genus Istiblennius reappraised: a revision of Istiblennius, Blenniella, and Paralticus, new genus. Smithson. Contrib. Zool. 565:1-193. (Ref. 9962)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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