• Istiblennius edentulus, the rippled rockskipper, is a species of combtooth blenny found in coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

• It is also commonly known as the rippled blenny, smooth-lipped blenny, toothless blenny, or coral blenny. Males of this species can reach a maximum of 16 cm (6.3 in) TL, while females can reach a maximum of 13.2 cm (5.2 in) SL

• A pale greenish grey rockskipper with dark greyish divided bars on sides that extend onto the dorsal-fin base, vertical orange wavy lines in the spaces between the bars, and a pale-edged grey bar through the eye across the upper lip.

• Females have orange-brown spots on rear of body and on dorsal and anal fins. Males have a fleshy, blade-like crest on the head, and females either have or lack a crest.

• The species usually has relatively long simple nape cirri, and simple slender, transversely flattened, tapering orbital cirri.

OCCURRENCE

• Maldives, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Australia, Christmas Islands, Comores, Corea, East Africa, Egypt, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, India.

MARINE ZONE

• Subtidal, sublittoral, infralittoral, deep zone of the oceans from the lower limit of the intertidal zone (intertidal) to the shelf edge at about 200 m water depth. neritic.

SEA DEPTH

• 1 - 5 Meter

SIZE

• 4.72" - 6.3" (12cm - 16cm)

FOOD:

• Algae, algae grazer, epiphytes feeder, Sea weed

MORPHOLOGY

• Dorsal spines: 12-13

• Dorsal soft rays: 19-21

• Anal spines: 2

• Anal soft rays: 21-23

• Males are dark with 5-6 pairs of body bands and pale stripes on the dorsal fin, and they develop a crest. Females are paler, with bands that break into spots towards the rear, and a spotted dorsal fin.

BIOLOGY

• This species is capable of facultative air-breathing and is found in intertidal zones.

• Adults are commonly seen in areas with large rubble pieces, which are often used for constructing breakwaters or supporting jetty pylons. They hide in cracks or holes when not feeding. When chased, they energetically skip to another pool by jumping out of the water. They can also stay out of water for some time, under rocks or seaweed, and breathe air while out of water.

• Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive, and are attached to the substrate via a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal. Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters.