Corresponding author: Gaël P. J. Denys (
Jan Kotusz
Combtooth blennies belonging to the genus
Combtooth blennies are small benthic fish belonging to the family
In this study, we focused on the genus
The genus
The type species of the genus
The generic concept is widely discussed by
In order to distinguish genera, we did a bibliographical review of diagnoses published (
Three species:
Meristic characters characterizing
Character |
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Dorsal-fin rays | XII–XIII 16–17 | XII–XIII 16–17 | XII–XIII 16–18 | XI–XIII 23–27 | XI–XIII 21–24 |
Anal-fin rays | II 16–17 | II 16–20 | II 16–20 | II 24–28 | II 20–26 |
Vertebrae | 34 | 36–37 | 34–38 | 40–44 | 38–42 |
Teeth upper jaw | 13–15 | 25–30 | 16–24 | 25–33 | 19–28 |
Teeth lower jaw | 14–16 | 20–27 | 16–20 | 22–28 | 16–23 |
Circumorbital pores | 8–9 | 9 | 8 | 6–7 | 7 |
Preopercular pores | 8–9 | (9)10–11 | 9–10 | 6–8 | 6–8 |
Supratemporal pores | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Lateral view of
All
Lateral view of
Comparing our diagnosis with the description of
Other characters may discriminate between both genera:
In a recent study,
1 | Gill opening wide, branchiostegal membrane not fused with the body | 2 |
– | Gill opening restricted to the side of the head, branchiostegal membrane fused with the body | 11 |
2 | Absence of supraorbital tentacles | 3 |
– | Presence of supraorbital tentacles | 5 |
3 | Triangular, fleshy skin flap in the anterior neck area. Canines only in the lower jaw. |
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– | No triangular, fleshy skin flap in the anterior neck area. Canines in both jaws | 4 |
4 | 13 pectoral-fin rays. Body laterally compressed posteriorly. Relatively large mouth with a thick upper lip. General body color yellowish with dark brownish vertical bars. Dark brownish eyespot behind the eye. Mature males without bright coloration on cheeks |
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– | 12 pectoral-fin rays. Body well compressed laterally. Small mouth with thin lips. Absence of eyespot behind the eye. Mature males with bright yellow cheeks |
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5 | Canines in both jaws | 6 |
– | Canines only in the lower jaw |
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6 | Presence of teeth on the vomer | 7 |
– | Absence of teeth on the vomer | 9 |
7 | Supraorbital tentacles well developed, 3 mm in height minimum. Orbital canal with 2–3 rows of pores. I 4 pelvic fin rays. Male without any neck crest |
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– | Supraorbital tentacles hardly visible, less than 3 mm in height. Orbital canal with only one row of pores. I 3 pelvic fin rays. Male with neck crest | 8 |
8 | Presence of brownish bars on the flanks not contrasted with black dots conferring a marble coat. Dorsal fin notched between spined and soft rays (except for |
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– | Brownish bars on the flanks very contrasted with blue stripes and dots conferring a marble coat. Dorsal fin not notched between spined and soft rays. 21–27 dorsal fin soft rays. 20–28 anal fin soft rays. 38–44 vertebrae. 6–7 circumorbital pores. 6–8 preopercular pores. 2 supratemporal pores |
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9 | 12 pectoral fin rays |
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– | 13–14 pectoral fin rays | 10 |
10 | 14 pectoral fin rays. Presence of tentacles on the anterior nostril |
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– | 13 pectoral fin rays. Absence of tentacles on the anterior nostril |
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11 | Presence of canines in both jaws |
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– | Absence of canines in either jaw | 12 |
12 | Body skin loose and flaccid, encompassing dorsal and anal fins. XII–XIV dorsal fin pines |
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– | Body skin not loose and flabby, not reaching over the fins. XI–XII dorsal fin pines | 13 |
13 | The skin of the dorsal fin extends over to the proximal quarter of the caudal |
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– | The skin of the dorsal fin does not extend to the caudal | 14 |
14 | IX–X 25 dorsal fin rays. 24 anal-fin soft rays. 15–16 pectoral fin rays |
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– | XI–XII 15–18 dorsal fin rays. 12–20 anal fin soft rays. 13–15 pectoral fin rays |
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This work was supported by the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, the Unité PatriNat 2006 and the UMR BOREA 8067. We thank the curators from the