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Scartichthys gigas
Scartichthys gigas (Steindachner, 1876)
Giant blenny
Scartichthys gigas
photo by Hooker, Y.

Family:  Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies), subfamily: Salariinae
Max. size:  25.1 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 10 m
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: Panama (Ref. 9280) to northern Chile (Ref. 10696).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-18; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 18-20. With fewer than 70 dentary incisors and a reticulated color pattern.
Biology:  Adults inhabit rocky coasts (Ref. 9280). They feed on plants, small mollusks and crustaceans (Ref. 9280). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Eggs are deposited in mollusk shells or on rocks (Ref. 9280). Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters (Ref. 94114). Used to prepare a soup called 'borracho' which evokes slight intoxication and tiredness; these effects, however, are of short duration (Ref. 9280).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 25 May 2007 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  other


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