Ecsenius prooculis

Springer, Victor G. & Allen, Gerald R., 2004, Ecsenius caeruliventris and E. shirleyae, two new species of blenniid fishes from Indonesia, and new distribution records for other species of Ecsenius, Zootaxa 791, pp. 1-12 : 3

Key to the species of the Prooculis group

1 Two linearly arranged dark spots present on side of abdomen .................. bimaculatus

­ No dark spots on abdomen ........................................................................................... 2

2 Two linear rows of dark spots on body at least in area ventral to segmented­ray portion of dorsal fin .................................................................................................................. 3

­ No rows of dark spots on body .................................................................................... 4

3 Black stripe extending posteriorly from orbital margin across opercle; one to three fine dark vertical bands present or absent on body anterior rows of dark spots ...... randalli

­ No black stripe extending posteriorly from orbital margin; dark spot present dorsally on opercle; no dark vertical bands on body....................................................... collettei

4 Body with pale stripes alternating with broader dark stripes ....................................... 5

­ Body without distinctive markings .............................................................................. 6

5 Pale stripes narrow, depth much less than one­fourth orbital diameter; dorsal pale stripe on body at or dorsal to level of lateral line; ventral pale stripe on body midline; dusky spot on post­orbital margin indistinctly, if at all, leading to stripe across head ... ......................................................................................................................... taeniatus

­ Pale stripes deeper, about one­third orbital diameter; dorsal pale stripe on body ventral to level of lateral line; ventral pale stripe on body ventral to body midline; dusky stripe extending posteriorly from orbital margin across head................................... prooculis

6 No dark stripe extending posteriorly from orbital margin across head (a dark spot may be present on postorbital margin)............................................................. caeruliventris

­ Dark stripe extending posteriorly from orbital margin across head............................. 7

7 Dark stripe on head narrower ( Figures 1 d, 2b), bordered ventrally by pale white stripe in life; in life, stripes in interorbital area and iris of eye white or faintly tinged with yellow .......................................................................................................................... shirleyae

­ Dark stripe on head deeper ( Figures 1 e, 2d), bordered dorsally and ventrally by bright yellow in life; in life, stripes in interorbital area and iris of eye bright yellow............... ......................................................................................................................... bandanus

Figures

FIGURE 1. Photographs of preserved specimens of three similar Ecsenius species. a – c, Ecsenius caeruliventris: a, b, MZB 12094, holotype, male, 24.3 mm SL (b, ventral surface of head); c, USNM 379435, female, 23.0 mm SL, ventral surface of head (note pale spots). d, Ecsenius shirleyae, USNM 211996, holotype, male, 28.4 mm SL; e, Ecsenius bandanus, USNM 221236, male, 31.7 mm SL, Biak, Irian Jaya, Indonesia.