Dr. Sergey V. Bogorodsky, Russland
Info
Very special thanks for the first two photos to Dr. Dr. Sergey V. Bogorodsky, Russia, one of the authors of the scientific paper:
"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".
For many years, the blenny Enneapterygius altipinnis was only recognised and taxonomically listed as a synonym of Enneapterygius tutuilae Jordan and Seale.
It was not until the review on Tripterygiidae by Hollemann & Bogorodsky in 2012 that Enneapterygius altipinnis was again recognised as a separate and valid species.
In the Red Sea, the small blenny lives at shallow depths on dead corals, on weedy areas, algae-covered rocks or on rubble near reefs.
Enneapterygius altipinnis is a cryptic species that can adapt almost perfectly to its environment.
Males:
The body of males is cream above, white ventrally, many scales are fringed with orange, the head is cream with pale green markings.
Five irregular spots of olive-brown with melanophores are particularly distinct, the first from the front of the second dorsal fin and below the pectoral fin, the second from the middle of the second dorsal fin, the third from the junction of the second and third dorsal fins, the fourth in the middle of the third dorsal fin and the last across the peduncle at the base of the caudal fin.
A sure feature to distinguish females is the colouration with red and black spots and patterns on the first dorsal fin.
Females:
Females look very similar to males, but without red on the dorsal fins.
Under water the females are hardly visible on sand, their body shows light and olive green bands.
The first, longer spine of the first dorsal fin is black and white banded, the membranes are white, the second dorsal fin has a white band near the back half of the edge and several other white spots. The third dorsal fin is similar to the second.
Jumping guard
A jumping guard prevents (nocturnal) fish from jumping out.
Wrasses, blennies, hawkfishs and gobies jump out of an unprotected tank in fright if their night rest is disturbed, unfortunately these jumpers are found dried up in the morning on carpets, glass edges or later behind the tank.
https://www.korallenriff.de/en/article/1925_5_Jump_Protection_Solutions_for_Fish_in_the_Aquarium__5_Net_Covers.html
A small night light also helps, as it provides the fish with a means of orientation in the dark!
Synonymised names
Enneapterygius altipinnus Clark, 1980 · unaccepted
"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".
For many years, the blenny Enneapterygius altipinnis was only recognised and taxonomically listed as a synonym of Enneapterygius tutuilae Jordan and Seale.
It was not until the review on Tripterygiidae by Hollemann & Bogorodsky in 2012 that Enneapterygius altipinnis was again recognised as a separate and valid species.
In the Red Sea, the small blenny lives at shallow depths on dead corals, on weedy areas, algae-covered rocks or on rubble near reefs.
Enneapterygius altipinnis is a cryptic species that can adapt almost perfectly to its environment.
Males:
The body of males is cream above, white ventrally, many scales are fringed with orange, the head is cream with pale green markings.
Five irregular spots of olive-brown with melanophores are particularly distinct, the first from the front of the second dorsal fin and below the pectoral fin, the second from the middle of the second dorsal fin, the third from the junction of the second and third dorsal fins, the fourth in the middle of the third dorsal fin and the last across the peduncle at the base of the caudal fin.
A sure feature to distinguish females is the colouration with red and black spots and patterns on the first dorsal fin.
Females:
Females look very similar to males, but without red on the dorsal fins.
Under water the females are hardly visible on sand, their body shows light and olive green bands.
The first, longer spine of the first dorsal fin is black and white banded, the membranes are white, the second dorsal fin has a white band near the back half of the edge and several other white spots. The third dorsal fin is similar to the second.
Jumping guard
A jumping guard prevents (nocturnal) fish from jumping out.
Wrasses, blennies, hawkfishs and gobies jump out of an unprotected tank in fright if their night rest is disturbed, unfortunately these jumpers are found dried up in the morning on carpets, glass edges or later behind the tank.
https://www.korallenriff.de/en/article/1925_5_Jump_Protection_Solutions_for_Fish_in_the_Aquarium__5_Net_Covers.html
A small night light also helps, as it provides the fish with a means of orientation in the dark!
Synonymised names
Enneapterygius altipinnus Clark, 1980 · unaccepted
