Relevant synonyms None Misidentification None Meristic formula D, X-XI + 17-19; A, II + 17-19; P, 13-15; V, I + 3  photo : David Darom

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body elongated and compressed. Dorsal fin long, continuous and without notches, its origin before pectoral fin base. Anal fin long, originates at midpoint. Last dorsal and anal rays attached to caudal peduncle by small membrane. Pelvic fin thoracic, well before pectoral fin base. Curved head with blunt snout. Mouth inferior. Close set of 20-40 incisor teeth in each jaw (their number increase with fish growth). Fang-like canines in front of upper jaw and very long, slightly curved fangs in lower jaw. Several fine cirri on head. Gill openings above pectoral fin base. Body scaleless. color : body yellow-brown with irregular brown blotches. Dorsal and anal fins with series of black blotches. size : common 5-10 cm (max. 12 cm). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Other blennids: lack of huge fang teeth in the jaws. Gobiidae: pelvic fins united to form sucking disc. Tripterygiidae: three dorsal fins. Callionymidae: two dorsal fins; Pelvic fin I + 5. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Feeds on small benthic invertebrates. Eggs and larvae planktonic. habitat : shallow, sandy shore often covered with algae.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Nizzanim, Israel, 1989. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Red Sea to the Arabian Gulf. Mediterranean : recorded first at Nizzanim, Israel, beam trawl (Goren and Galil, 1989) ; later recorded in Iskenderan Bay, Turkey (Taskavak et al., 2000). Recorded in Rhodes. ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Very rare, only two specimens have been collected in the Mediterranean. speculated reasons for success : MODE OF INTRODUCTION Via the Suez Canal. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None.

KEY REFERENCES Goren M. and Galil B., 1989. Petroscirtes ancylodon: first Lessepsian migrant blenny in the eastern Mediterranean. Israel Journal of Zoology, 36:125-128. Taskavak E., Bilecenglu M., Basusta N. and Mater S., 2000. Occurrence of Pteragogus pelycus Randall, 1981 (Teteostei: Labridae) and Petroscirtes ancylodon Rüppell, 1838 (Teleostei: Blennidae) at the eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Acta Adriatica, 41: 53-58. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: January 2009 ©ciesm 2002