Dr. Glen Whisson, Aqua Research and Monitoring Services, Australien
Info
Melanophorichthys priscillae is one of four newly described species of endemic seagrass-nesting blennies from Australia.
Melanophorichthys priscillae inhabits dense seagrass meadows formed by Heterozostera tasmanica and Posidonia coriacea and was collected with seine and box trawl nets in waters up to 15 meters deep.
Coloration:
The fish are sexually dichromatic.
In males, the background color is variable, ranging from bright green to wine red or reddish brown.
The dorsal and dorsolateral surfaces appear lighter than the lower half of the body.
Irregular bright white to iridescent blue markings, possibly formed by iridophores, are distributed over the head and body, most prominently along the ventrolateral and ventral surfaces.
The lower half of the body is covered with tiny dark brown to black melanophores and tiny red to brown spots, which probably represent erythrophors.
The dorsal and anal fins are reddish orange, with few irregular, bright white to iridescent blue markings, and the caudal fin is faintly reddish brown, with or without lighter markings.
The pectoral fins are crystal clear, the tip of the snout and lips are pinkish red, most noticeable in individuals with a green base color.
Females have a transparent dorsal surface of the head and body, allowing the back of the skull, vertebrae and nerve cord to be visible through the skin when the fish is viewed from behind at the origin of the dorsal fin.
The ventral side is bright reddish brown and mottled with dark brown to black melanophores, the space between the melanophores is filled with tiny red to brown spots, which probably represent erythrophors.
The ventrolateral and ventral surfaces of the head and body show irregular light white to iridescent blue markings, as described for males.
The dorsal surface in front of the base of the dorsal fin is covered with a row of 10–11 light red to dark brown markings consisting of clusters of pigment cells (probably erythrophors).
The markings vary in shape and size, ranging from larger, mediolaterally elongated saddles to smaller v- or dumbbell-shaped markings, covering the transparent upper part of the body.
The dorsal surface behind the base of the dorsal fin has a row of semi-transparent spots that result from the extension of the lateral pigment pattern onto the dorsal surface and often connect across the midline.
The dorsal and anal fins are covered with dark brown to red markings, the caudal fin has irregular dark brown to red markings above the base and in the middle. Pectoral fin hyaline. Base of pectoral fin with large accumulation of red to brown spots, probably erythrophores. Dorsal surface of head with small irregular dark brown to red markings, formed by accumulations of pigment cells (probably erythrophores).
The spaces between the markings are bright white to iridescent blue.
The sides of the head and muzzle are covered with dark red to brown spots (probably erythrophors), forming a faint stripe through the eye.
In both sexes, the iris ranges from yellow to red and merges into a bright yellow inner ring, which is covered with red to brown spots, probably formed by erythrophors.
Distribution and habitat.
Museum specimens are only available from the type locality, Cockburn Sound, Western Australia, but based on photos taken by recreational divers, the species is certainly more widespread.
The species probably occurs at least as far as Eagle Bay, as can be seen in an underwater photo taken by a recreational diver (Erik Schlogl, 2006).
Etymology:
The species name “priscilla” is derived from the Australian comedy “Priscilla – Queen of the Desert”, which describes the journey of three heroines traveling across Australia in a bus named Priscilla. The species name was chosen to match the bright colors of the new species' males.
We would like to thank Dr. Glen Whisson, Australia, who kindly provided us with one of his photos of Melanophorichthys priscillae!
Literature reference:
Conway, Kevin & Moore, Glenn & Summers, Adam. (2024). A new genus and four new species of seagrass-specialist clingfishes (Teleostei: Gobiesocidae) from temperate southern Australia. Zootaxa. 5552. 0-66. 10.11646/zootaxa.5552.1.1.11646/zootaxa.5552.1.1.
Melanophorichthys priscillae inhabits dense seagrass meadows formed by Heterozostera tasmanica and Posidonia coriacea and was collected with seine and box trawl nets in waters up to 15 meters deep.
Coloration:
The fish are sexually dichromatic.
In males, the background color is variable, ranging from bright green to wine red or reddish brown.
The dorsal and dorsolateral surfaces appear lighter than the lower half of the body.
Irregular bright white to iridescent blue markings, possibly formed by iridophores, are distributed over the head and body, most prominently along the ventrolateral and ventral surfaces.
The lower half of the body is covered with tiny dark brown to black melanophores and tiny red to brown spots, which probably represent erythrophors.
The dorsal and anal fins are reddish orange, with few irregular, bright white to iridescent blue markings, and the caudal fin is faintly reddish brown, with or without lighter markings.
The pectoral fins are crystal clear, the tip of the snout and lips are pinkish red, most noticeable in individuals with a green base color.
Females have a transparent dorsal surface of the head and body, allowing the back of the skull, vertebrae and nerve cord to be visible through the skin when the fish is viewed from behind at the origin of the dorsal fin.
The ventral side is bright reddish brown and mottled with dark brown to black melanophores, the space between the melanophores is filled with tiny red to brown spots, which probably represent erythrophors.
The ventrolateral and ventral surfaces of the head and body show irregular light white to iridescent blue markings, as described for males.
The dorsal surface in front of the base of the dorsal fin is covered with a row of 10–11 light red to dark brown markings consisting of clusters of pigment cells (probably erythrophors).
The markings vary in shape and size, ranging from larger, mediolaterally elongated saddles to smaller v- or dumbbell-shaped markings, covering the transparent upper part of the body.
The dorsal surface behind the base of the dorsal fin has a row of semi-transparent spots that result from the extension of the lateral pigment pattern onto the dorsal surface and often connect across the midline.
The dorsal and anal fins are covered with dark brown to red markings, the caudal fin has irregular dark brown to red markings above the base and in the middle. Pectoral fin hyaline. Base of pectoral fin with large accumulation of red to brown spots, probably erythrophores. Dorsal surface of head with small irregular dark brown to red markings, formed by accumulations of pigment cells (probably erythrophores).
The spaces between the markings are bright white to iridescent blue.
The sides of the head and muzzle are covered with dark red to brown spots (probably erythrophors), forming a faint stripe through the eye.
In both sexes, the iris ranges from yellow to red and merges into a bright yellow inner ring, which is covered with red to brown spots, probably formed by erythrophors.
Distribution and habitat.
Museum specimens are only available from the type locality, Cockburn Sound, Western Australia, but based on photos taken by recreational divers, the species is certainly more widespread.
The species probably occurs at least as far as Eagle Bay, as can be seen in an underwater photo taken by a recreational diver (Erik Schlogl, 2006).
Etymology:
The species name “priscilla” is derived from the Australian comedy “Priscilla – Queen of the Desert”, which describes the journey of three heroines traveling across Australia in a bus named Priscilla. The species name was chosen to match the bright colors of the new species' males.
We would like to thank Dr. Glen Whisson, Australia, who kindly provided us with one of his photos of Melanophorichthys priscillae!
Literature reference:
Conway, Kevin & Moore, Glenn & Summers, Adam. (2024). A new genus and four new species of seagrass-specialist clingfishes (Teleostei: Gobiesocidae) from temperate southern Australia. Zootaxa. 5552. 0-66. 10.11646/zootaxa.5552.1.1.11646/zootaxa.5552.1.1.
