Teleostei (teleosts) >
Blenniiformes (Blennies) >
Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies) > Salariinae
Etymology: Cirripectes: Latin, cirrus = curl fringe + Greek, pektos, -e, -on = made of several parts solidly united (Ref. 45335); alboapicalis: Specific epithet 'albus' meaning white, 'apicalis' meaning apex, referring to the pale area at the tip of the dorsal-fin spines..
More on author: Ogilby.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 10 m (Ref. 529). Tropical; 20°S - 34°S, 148°E - 108°W
Pacific Ocean: Capricorn Group of the Great Barrier Reef, Lord Howe, Norfolk, Kermadec, Cook, Austral and Easter islands; also from the Pitcairn Group.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 5 - ? cm
Max length : 15.5 cm NG male/unsexed; (Ref. 89467)
Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 17; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 16 - 18; Vertebrae: 31 - 32. Diagnosis: Dorsal fin XII, 15-17 (usually 16), deeply incised above the last spine; anal fin II, 16-18 (usually 17); pectoral rays 14-16 (in general for the genus); pelvic fin I, 4; caudal fin procurrent rays 10-14. Gill rakers 25-31. Vertebrae 10 + 21-23 (usually 22); last pleural rib on 12th, last epipleural rib on 18th-23rd vertebral centrum. Body scaleless. Lateral line, anterior portion with small scalelike flaps, LL tubes 11-17 (rarely 9-10), series ends below and posterior to dorsal fin ray 12. Narrow inner ring of iris yellow, remainder black. Lower lip crenulated mesially, plicate laterally. Upper lip crenulae 34-52. Cirri, nuchal 28-42, supraorbital 4-18, nasal 8-27. Nuchal cirri in 2 groups, not overlapping at midpoint of nape, no nuchal flaps. First and second dorsal fin spine almost same height. Species name (albus - white; apicalis - apex) refers to pale tips of dorsal-fin spines. Adult brown in body color with spots; brown pupil-sized spot behind each eye. Ophioblennius stage overall light brown; lower lip both corners with dark spot; cirri brown; fins pale (in alcohol); dentary with 2-4 canines posteriorly (Ref. 529).
Facultative air-breathing in the genus (Ref. 126274); Found in coral reefs and rocky reefs (Ref. 529). 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).
Oviparous, distinct pairing (Ref. 205). Urogenital orifice of male genital papilla located at distal tip or on posterior side of a single slender filament on a fleshy swelling behind anus; elongated testes, length equal to 2-3 times the width (Ref. 529).
Williams, J.T., 1988. Revision and phylogenetic relationships of the blenniid fish genus Cirripectes. Indo-Pac. Fish. (17):78 p. (Ref. 529)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 21.4 - 25.7, mean 24.8 °C (based on 183 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00741 (0.00335 - 0.01640), b=3.02 (2.83 - 3.21), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.0 ±0.00 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 126 [64, 217] mg/100g; Iron = 0.8 [0.5, 1.4] mg/100g; Protein = 18 [17, 19] %; Omega3 = 0.0743 [, ] g/100g; Selenium = 24.7 [12.1, 55.5] μg/100g; VitaminA = 84.2 [20.8, 334.9] μg/100g; Zinc = 2.31 [1.53, 3.34] mg/100g (wet weight);
