About Salarias fasciatus (Bloch, 1786)
Common Name and Base Color
Salarias fasciatus, commonly known as the banded blenny, typically has an olive to brown base body color.
Body Markings
It features dark bars, a great number of round or elongated white spots of varying sizes, plus additional pale spots, anteriorly running dark streaks, and several distinct dark bands.
Size
This is a small fish species that reaches a maximum total length of 14 centimetres (5.5 inches).
Fin Structure
It has no notch in its dorsal fin, and both its dorsal and anal fins are connected to the base of the caudal fin via a membrane of skin.
Mature Male Trait
Mature males have elongated anterior rays on the anal fin.
Additional Body Markings
Most individuals have dark longitudinal lines on the front section of the body, and small bright blue spots outlined in dark along the rear section of the body.
Depth and Distribution Range
This species inhabits reef environments at depths ranging from 0 to 8 meters (0 to 26 feet), across a range extending from East Africa and the Red Sea east to Samoa, and covering the Islands of Micronesia.
Preferred Habitat
It is most commonly found on shallow reef flats that have dense algae cover.
