Helcogramma steinitzi Clark, 1980

Holleman, Wouter & Bogorodsky, Sergey V., 2012, A review of the blennioid fish family Tripterygiidae (Perciformes) in the Red Sea, with description of Enneapterygius qirmiz, and reinstatement of Enneapterygius altipinnis Clark, 1980, Zootaxa 3152, pp. 36-60 : 56-57

Helcogramma steinitzi Clark, 1980

Fig. 8 H; table 1

Helcogramma steinitzi Clark, 1980: 88 , fig. 8, Pl. II–V (Gulf of Aqaba); Hansen, 1986: 347; Randall, 1995: 310; Holleman, 2006: 98, Figs. 5–8 and 2007: 75, Figs. 1 & 15, Pl. 2; Golani & Bogorodsky, 2010: 45.

Diagnosis (partially from Clark 1980 and Randall 1995). Dorsal fins III + XII–XIV + 10–12 (usually III + XIII + 10–11); anal fin I, 19–21 (usually 20); pectoral fins usually 15–17 (recorded by Clark and Randall; usually 16: 2, 7, 7). LL 21–27 tubed scales, ending below first five rays of third dorsal fin; total lateral scales 38–40 (37–41, from Clark). Dentary pores 3 + 1 + 3. Head length 3.0– 3.5 in SL. Nape scaled, belly naked, scales do not extend to base of first dorsal or anal fins; 1 or 2 rows of scales at base of caudal fin. Pelvic-fin rays united by membrane for half length of shorter ray, longer ray reaching vent. Origin of first dorsal fin over posterior margin of preopercle, fin triangular, in males first dorsal-fin spine about as long as longest spine of second dorsal fin, in females a little shorter; first two spines set close together. Mouth large, maxilla reaching vertical through posterior border of pupil; orbital cirrus minute.

Fresh colour. (based on Randall 1995 and photos by the second author and Randall). Body of males dark red above LL, many scales outlined in black, paler red below LL, with white flecks and indistinct black markings forming a reticulated pattern, and with 8 dark blotches interspersed with white blotches along mid–side below lateral line; belly white. Head above lower level of eye dark red, below bluish–grey with many small melanophores, and a bluish mark below eye and another on lower part of preopercle. First dorsal fin with red and black spots; second and third with red basal band with black spots and pale red marginal band, hyaline band between, with white on elements. Anal fin pale red, darker along margin; caudal fin pale red; pectoral fins red, bases dark grey with two oval, bluish marks, one above the other; pelvic fins pink.

Females with translucent greenish body, irregularly spotted with white, with large interconnecting red blotches, red and black spots on scale margins, forming a reticulated pattern; head greenish with numerous dark red spots and short bands, the darkest a diagonal band on the side of the snout.

Colour underwater. Body of males mottled red-brown on white, head with many brown spots below eyes and to base of pectoral fins, bluish mark below eye and on lower part of preopercle, and two bluish spots on pectoral fin base. Median fins translucent with red and white, except for membrane between first two dorsal-fin spines white with dark areas. Females semi-translucent with reddish-brown and subcutaneous white marks; median fins translucent, fin elements with brown and pale ‘bands’, pectoral-fin rays with white marks and orange-pink distally.

Key features. Large, ‘crocodile-like’ head with thick lips; males red in life with lower part of head blackish and many micromelanophores on membrane between first two dorsal-fin spines; females whitish with irregular brown markings on body and lower part of head.

Distribution. Helcogramma steinitzi is known from the Red Sea, the coasts of Yemen and Oman and the Persian Gulf.

Remarks. H. steinitzi is one of a complex of species of which there are three species in the Indian Ocean. The males of all the species of the complex are red and have many micromelanophores on the membrane between the first two dorsal fin spines. Occurs on corals and rocks in bays and lagoons in depths from 0.5 to at least 12 m, usually solitary. The species attains nearly 60 mm SL.

Material examined. Additional to that listed in Holleman 2006: SAIAB 88723 (27 mm SL), 5 km S of Hamata, southern Egypt (24°13'N, 34°25'E), collected S. Bogorodsky, 18 November 2008; SAIAB 88724 (mm SL), northern Hurghada (27°15'N, 33°49'E), collected S. Bogorodsky, 20 April 2009; SMF 33583 (17.8 mm SL), Al Qunfidhah, Saudi Arabia (19°16.813' N, 40°53.265' E), collected S. Bogorodsky, 30 March 2011; SMF 33584 (18.0 mm SL), Rabigh, Saudi Arabia (22°47.123' N, 38°57.507' E), collected S. Bogorodsky, 0 6 April 2011; SMF 33585 (17.9 mm SL), Rabigh, Saudi Arabia (22°47.123' N, 38°57.507' E), collected S. Bogorodsky, 0 6 April 2011.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Map of the Red Sea showing localities mentioned in the text.

FIGURE 5. (A) Enneapterygius abeli, M, El Quseir; (B) Enneapterygius abeli, F, Marsa Alam; (C) Enneapterygius abeli, M, El Quseir; (D) Enneapterygius clarkae, El Quseir; (E) Enneapterygius destai, M, Al Lith, Saudi Arabia; (F) Enneapterygius destai, F, Gulf of Aqaba. Photos by J. Herler (F); S. V. Bogorodsky (the others).

FIGURE 6. Enneapterygius qirmiz sp. nov., M, Angarosh Reef. Photo by S. V. Bogorodsky.

FIGURE 7. Enneapterygius qirmiz sp. nov., SMF 33093, male 16.9 mm SL; Uqban, Kamaran Island, Yemen. Drawn by Elaine Heemstra.

FIGURE 8. (A) Enneapterygius obscurus, Marsa Alam; (B) Enneapterygius pallidus, Farasan Is.; (C) Enneapterygius pusillus, M, Sharm el Sheik; (D) Enneapterygius pusillus, M, Oman; (E) Enneapterygius ventermaculus, Farasan Is.; (E) Helcogramma obtusirostris, M, Sharm el Sheil; (F) Helcogramma obtusirostris, F, Sharm el Sheik; (G) Helcogramma steinitzi, F, Marsa Alam; (H) Norfolkia brachylepis, Bali. Photos by R. Field (B, E), J. E. Randall (D); G. R. Allen (H); S. V. Bogorodsky (the others).