Antennablennius simonyi ( Steindachner, 1902 )

Estekani, Sanaz, Bogorodsky, Sergey V., Zajonz, Uwe, Hundt, Peter J., Siahsarvie, Roohollah & Aliabadian, Mansour, 2024, Mitochondrial DNA-based reassessment of Antennablennius Fowler (Blenniidae: Salariini) from the north-western Indian Ocean, with resurrection of A. persicus (Regan), Zootaxa 5501 (3), pp. 425-446 : 439

Antennablennius simonyi ( Steindachner, 1902)

Simony’s Blenny

Figure 8 , Table 3

Salarias simonyi Steindachner, 1902: 317 ( Yemen, Bal Haf ; syntypes: NMW 76243 & 78250).

Antennablennius simonyi — Bath 1983: 64 (Gulf of Aden ( Yemen), Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf ( Iran); Randall 1995: 314 (Oman); Zajonz et al. 2019: 94 ( Socotra Archipelago, listed).

Antennablennius persicus (non Regan)— Blegvad 1944: 176 (Persian Gulf, Iran).

Antennablennius girad Fraser-Brunner, 1951: 217 (Persian Gulf) , in Bath 1983: 64.

Description. Dorsal-fin rays XII,17–20 (usually 18); anal-fin rays II,18–21 (usually 19 or 20); pectoral-fin rays 14; body depth 5.2–5.8 in standard length; lateral line ending below dorsal-fin spine IV-VI; a cirrus posteriorly on anterior nostril short in females, and reaching to upper lip in males; a pair of very short cirri on nape; males with pair of crests on head; teeth in jaws incisiform, immovable, close-set, 27–32 in upper jaw and 25–26 in lower; dorsal fin weakly to moderately notched between spinous and soft portions. Size: Attains 5.5 cm.

Coloration ( Fig. 8 ). Males pale yellowish grey, body below spinous portion of dorsal fin with indistinct dusky bars and elongate blackish and black spots, body below soft portion of dorsal fin with a midlateral row of six dark brown spots and numerous very small pale blue spots; opercle with a dark grey spot broadly edged with red and narrow white outer edge; suborbital area with three short blackish bars; head with small white and orange spots on side, and oblique blackish bar posteriorly on chest; posterior part of crest with dark orange spots; spinous portion of dorsal fin with curved pale yellow band in posterior half, black spot distally between first two spines, yellow submarginal band containing red stripe, and sometimes two oblique rows of white spots anteriorly; soft portion of dorsal fin with every two rays black at base, yellow outer half of fin alternating with whitish and brown and orange margin; margin of anal fin black except posteriorly; caudal fin with several rows of small dark greenish brown spots which form bars. Females similar but spinous portion of dorsal fin translucent with three oblique dusky bands, soft portion of dorsal fin black spots along rays, and every second anal-fin ray black.

Distribution and habitat. Endemic to the Arabian region, reported from the Gulf of Aden, Socotra Archipelago, southern Oman, Gulf of Oman ( United Arab Emirates) and Persian Gulf ( Iran) ( Bath 1983; Randall 1995). Typically occurs on rocky substrata in inshore reefs at depths of 0.5–2.5 m, usually seen in tidepools.

Remarks. The species is easily distinguished from other congeners by having a dark grey spot on the opercle and a double crest on the head of males (crest single or absent in other species).

Material examined (n=3). Socotra Island: SMF uncatalogued (tissue sample SOC18-033), 45.0 mm SL, male; SMF uncatalogued (tissue sample SOC18-025), 29.0 mm SL, female; SMF uncatalogued (tissue sample SOC18-041), 44.0 mm SL, male.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Antennablennius simonyi. A: USNM 217360, 44 mm SL, male, Muscat, Oman; B: SMF uncatalogued (tissue sample SOC18-033), 45.0 mm SL, male, Di Hamri, Socotra Island; C: SMF uncatalogued (tissue sample SOC18-025), 29.0 mm SL, female, Di Hamri, Socotra Island. Photos by J.E. Randall (A), S.V. Bogorodsky (B & C).