Research Article Comb-Tooth Blennies Of
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Iran. J. Ichthyol. (September 2018), 5(3): 192-211 Received: June 8, 2018 © 2018 Iranian Society of Ichthyology Accepted: August 28, 2018 P-ISSN: 2383-1561; E-ISSN: 2383-0964 doi: 10.22034/iji.v5i3.295 http://www.ijichthyol.org Research Article Comb-tooth blennies of the intertidal zones of Persian Gulf and Makran Sea: Morphology, taxonomy, distribution and conservation status (Blenniiformes: Blenniidae) Hamidreza MEHRABAN, Hamid Reza ESMAEILI* Ichthyology and Molecular Systematics Research Laboratory, Zoology Section, Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. *Email: [email protected] Abstract: The present study provides a checklist of the family Blenniidae from intertidal habitats along the Iranian coasts of Persian Gulf and Makran Sea. This research carried out during the years 2013-2018 at nine stations (Dayyer, Haale, Bostanou, Bandar Lenge, Qeshm, Gataan, Jask, Gugsar and Chabahar) with almost rocky profile covering whole distribution range of the family. A total of 15 species including 11 species from collection sites and four species from previous works are listed here: Alticus kirkii, Antennablennius adenensis, A. bifilum, A. variopunctatus, Istiblennius edentulus, I. lineatus, I. pox, I. spilotus, Parablennius cornutus, P. opercularis, P. pilicornis and Scartella emarginata (subfamily Salariinae); Omobranchus fasciolatus, O. mekranensis and O. punctatus (subfamily Blenniinae). The most diverse genus is Istiblennius (four species, 26.6%) followed by Antennablennius, Parablennius and Omobranchus (each with three species, 20%), Alticus and Scartella (each with one species, 6.6%). All reported species, except the endemic Makran comb-tooth blenny, Omobranchus mekranensis, Vulnerable) are considered as Least Concern (LC). Keywords: Salariinae, Blenniinae, Systematics, Diversity, Morphological characters. Citation: Mehraban, H. & Esmaeili, H.R. 2018. Comb-tooth blennies of the intertidal zones of Persian Gulf and Makran Sea: Morphology, taxonomy, distribution and conservation status (Blenniiformes: Blenniidae). Iranian Journal of Ichthyology 5(3): 192-211. Introduction variety of habitats: coral reefs, rocky intertidal, The Blenniidae comprises 58 genera and 397 species mangroves, oyster beds and in the lower reaches of of small benthic fishes according to Nelson et al. most rivers. Several species of blenniids are involved (2016) and 406 species according to in mimetic associations with other fishes, being Eschmeyer & Fong (2018). The family is distributed similar in external appearance to the other species worldwide, with most species occurring in shallow (see e.g., Smith-Vaniz et al. 2001). coastal, tropical and warm temperate marine waters, Intertidal fishes of the Persian Gulf and Makran along with a few species known from fresh and/or Sea have been examined by several researchers brackish water. Despite being relatively well-known (Smith 1959 a, b; Wright et al. 1990; Abou-Seedo taxonomically, the phylogenetic relationships of the 1992; Springer & William 1994; Randall 1995). blenniids with the other five families of Although the intertidal fishes of the Iranian Coasts of Blenniiformes are poorly known. The Blenniidae has Persian Gulf and Makran sea have already been listed been the most studied among any of the other (see Blegvad & Loppenthin 1944; Ghanbarifardi & blennies, in part because it is by far the most speciose Malek 2007), but no comprehensive study and but also because it is distributed widely, specimens updated list is available. can be easily collected, and the species occur in a The aims of this study is to provide taxonomic list 192 Mehraban and Esmaeili- Comb-tooth blennies of the intertidal zones of Persian Gulf and Makran Sea Fig.1. Map of the Persian Gulf and Makran Sea showing collection sites of comb-tooth blennies. and distribution range of the comb-tooth blennies published an infrafamilial classification of the collected from the intertidal zones of the Iranian Blenniidae for the first time, including a synopsis of coasts of the Persian Gulf and Makran Sea and blenniid fish genera. He grouped the species of the review the previous reported species from this family in three subfamilies, on the basis of different region. types of dentition: Ophioblenniinae, Blenniinae, and Salariinae. Later authors modified Norman’s Materials and Methods classification into present usage (two subfamilies: This checklist has been compiled from the works Blenniinae and Salariinae). Based on osteological listed in the references and also by sampling of the characters, Springer (1968) distinguished two intertidal zones of Persian Gulf and Makran Sea subfamilies: Blenniinae (three tribes Blenniini, during the years 2013-2018. (Fig. 1, Table 1). Omobranchini and Salariini) and Nemophidinae. Sampling were carried out with hand nets. Clove oil Springer & Smith-Vaniz (1972) degraded the and Quinate (Quinaldine Sulfate) (Ross & Ross subfamily Nemophidinae into a tribe Nemophini 2009) was used as anesthetics. After anesthesia, fish without comment; it was later revised as tribe individuals were fixed in 10% formaldehyde and Nemophini by Smith-Vaniz (1976). Williams (1990) later stored in 70% alcohol for morphological examined the phylogeny of the tribes of the family studies. All collected specimens were deposited in and hypothesized a close relationship between the the Zoological Museum of Shiraz University, tribes Parablenniini and Salariini. The monophyly of Collection of Biology Department, Shiraz (ZM- the Parablenniini was based on two synapomorphies, CBSU). Identification was carried out using available configuration of basibranchial I and epibranchial IV. identification keys (Smith & Heemstra 1986; Randall He hypothesized monophyly of the Salariini based 1995; Carpenter et al. 1997). on the configuration of the premaxillary and the shape of the infrapharyngobranchial plate. In a Results preliminary hypothesis of the blenniid tribe Review of literature reveals controversial debates at relationships, he divided the Salariini into two the subfamily taxonomic level. Norman (1943) groups, a Rhabdoblennius group with an atypical 193 Iran. J. Ichthyol. (September 2018), 5(3): 184-211 Table 1. Details of the collecting sites of comb-tooth blennies from the Persian Gulf and Makran Sea. Locality Coordinate 27 50 N Dayyer 51 56 E Persian Gulf 27 23 27.4 N Haale 52 34 38.0 E 27 07 14.8 N Bostanou 53 01 20.3 E 26 31 15.4 Bandar Lenge 54 50 05.9 26 44 52.0 N Qeshm 56 00 42.6 E 25 57 31.6 N Gataan Makran Sea 57 15 45.2 E 25 41 68 N Jask 57 53 26.46 E 25 33 57.2 N Gugsar 58 48 23.6 E 25 16 66.5 N Chabahar 60 39 94.6 E Fig.2. Alticus kirkii collected from Chabahar, Makran Sea, Iran. dentition, and a Salarias-group with a typical Type locality: Zanzibar Island, Tanzania. dentition (Williams 1990: fig. 1). Bath (2001) Dorsal rays XVII,20-22 (usually 21); anal rays II, combined the formerly recognized tribes Salariini 26-28 (usually 26 or 27); caudal rays 11; pectoral and Parablenniini because they lacked defining rays 14; pelvic rays I,3; mouth inferior; teeth characters. movable and very numerous; no canine teeth, edge of upper lip crenulate and of lower lip entire; a blade- Taxonomic account like, fleshy crest on head crest higher in male and Family Blenniidae posteriorly pointed with a small basal lobe behind; a Subfamily Salariinae fringed tentacle above eye about half to two-third Genus Alticus Lacepède, 1800 orbit diameter; nasal cirrus also present; nape cirri 1- Alticus kirkii (Günther, 1868) absent; dorsal fin delicately indent between spinous (Fig. 2) and soft portions, the spinous portion very high in Salarias kirkii Günther, 1868 male; last anal ray doesn’t have membrane Lophalticus kirkii magnusi Klausewitz, 1964 attachment to caudal peduncle; pale greenish grey Alticus kirkii Dor, 1984 with numerous curved grey bars on body; dorsal fin Common name: Leaping blenny. with oblique white lines; Reaches about 11cm SL 194 Mehraban and Esmaeili- Comb-tooth blennies of the intertidal zones of Persian Gulf and Makran Sea Fig.3. Chabahar, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Makran Sea, natural habitat of Alticus kirkii. (Randall 1995). white spots; a large blackish blotch covering much of Material examined: Alticus kirkii ZM-CBSU 875- cheek and region behind eye, the cheek crossed by 879, (n=5), 65-84mm SL; Iran: Sistan and diagonal rows of pale blue dots; snout and dorsal part Baluchestan Prov., Chabahar, Makran Sea (Fig. 3). of head with pale blue dots; anal fin pale yellowish, Distribution: Mozambique and Reunion to India, every other soft ray dusky. Reaches 5cm SL (Randall including Makran Sea (Chabahar, Fig. 3). Also in the 1995). Red Sea. Distribution: Red Sea, northwestern Indian Ocean: IUCN: Least concern. Gulf of Aden, East to Pakistan. Recently reported from the Persian Gulf (Larak Island) by Alavi- Genus Antennablennius Fowler, 1931 Yeganeh et al. (2018) and Makran Sea (Chabahar) by 2- Antennablennius adenensis Fraser-Brunner, 1951 Shokouh Saljoghi et al. (2015). Common name: Aden blenny. IUCN: Least concern. Type locality: Tide pool at Aden, Yemen, Gulf of Aden, northwestern Indian Ocean. 3- Antennablennius bifilum (Günther, 1861) Dorsal rays XI,17-19; anal rays II,18-20; (Fig. 4) segmented caudal rays 13, the middle 7-9 branched; Blennius bifilum Günther, 1861 pectoral rays 14; pelvic rays I,3; teeth incisiform; Blennius persicus Regan, 1905 smooth lips’ margins; vomer teeth absent; posteriorly Antennablennius bifilum Springer, 1986 long cirrus on anterior nostril; supraorbital