Praealticus caesius (Seale, 1906)
Blackmargin rockskipper
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies), subfamily: Salariinae
Max. size:  7.9 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine
Distribution:  Western Central Pacific. Eastern Central Pacific: Pitcairn (Ref. 41650) and French Polynesia (Ref. 46206).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 13-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-20; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 19-22. Lip margins smooth; females dorsally whitish to light gray and ventrally white with a series of 6 paired black spots (anterior 2 pairs irregular with a row of spots above) on upper side of body, and 1 spot on caudal peduncle, each connected by a gray bar to a lower series; a black line on back at spinous portion of dorsal fin, and 4 pairs of small black spots along base of soft portion; small bluish white spots on posterior half of body, mostly on upper half; narrow black bars ventrally on head angling on to throat; a white line at posterior edge of eye continuing below to upper lip; median fins with blackish margins; posterior part of crest with a narrow pink margin and a broad, submarginal black band; dorsal-fin base with alternating black and whitish blotches; a black spot at midbase of caudal fin; males similar except with darker body; bluish white spots on body generally elliptical; faint oblique black bands on throat; oblique white lines in soft portion of dorsal fin. Last spine of dorsal fin very small; dorsal soft rays usually 19; anal soft ray rarely 19 or 22; middle 6-9 of 14 segmented caudal rays branched; lateral-line pores 5-9 (Ref. 54980).
Biology:  Adults are found in tidepools (Ref. 54980). Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive (Ref. 205), and are attached to the substrate via a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal (Ref. 94114). Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters (Ref. 94114).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 27 March 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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