Plagiotremus spilistius Gill, 1865
Plagiotremus spilistius
photo by Smith-Vaniz, W.F.

Family:  Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies), subfamily: Blenniinae
Max. size:  17.4 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 46 - 70 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Irian Jaya, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Viet Nam, and Thailand.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 58-60; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 55-57. Yellowish brown head and body; greyish brown dorsal and anal fin; dorsal fin membranes with numerous tiny black spots; pale yellow pectoral fin with black spot on upper base; yellow caudal fin with black upper margin and black filamentous outer lobes. Segmented caudal rays 11; adults of both sexes with elongate and filamentous caudal fin outer lobes (much longer in males (up to 50% of SL); dentary incisors with arrowhead-shaped tips; 4 interorbital pore; body depth ca. 20-22 in SL. Maximum size to 27 cm TL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Adults are found in muddy sand bottoms (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: 27 March 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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