Crossosalarias

Crossosalarias is a genus of fish in the family Blenniidae, commonly known as combtooth blennies. They are small, slender fish with elongated bodies and large heads. Crossosalarias are found in the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Pacific Islands.

Characteristics

Crossosalarias are characterized by their distinctive comb-like teeth, which are used for scraping algae off rocks and coral. They have a single dorsal fin that extends almost the entire length of their back, and a long anal fin. Their bodies are typically brown or gray with dark spots or stripes. Crossosalarias are usually less than 10 cm (4 inches) long.

Environment

Crossosalarias are typically found in shallow, rocky reefs and tide pools. They are often found in areas with a high density of algae, which they feed on. They are also known to scavenge for food on the seabed.

Species

There are currently four recognized species in the genus Crossosalarias:

  • Crossosalarias macrocephalus (Günther, 1861)
  • Crossosalarias niloticus (Valenciennes, 1836)
  • Crossosalarias rozebud (Springer, 1972)
  • Crossosalarias wilsoni (Springer, 1972)

References

[FishBase](https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Crossosalarias.html)
[ITIS](https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=171488)
[WoRMS](https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=126592)