Marquesan rockstripper

Alticus simplicirrus

Turning terrestrial to escape marine predators

Tropical
Regional distribution
Marine fish
Pacific Ocean
Elongated
Small
Tropical fish

Alticus simplicirrus, the Marquesan rockstripper, is a species of combtooth blenny found in the central Pacific Ocean, around the Marquesas Islands. This species reaches a length of 3.7 centimetres (1.5 in) SL. A population of blennies of this or a related species on Rarotonga has evolved to become largely terrestrial, apparently at least in part as a way of avoiding marine predators.

Class: Teleosts
Order: Blennies and Allies
Family: Blenniidae
Genus: Alticus
Maximum length: 12 cm
Water: Marine
Body shape: elongated
Distribution: Western Central Pacific. Eastern Central Pacific: Marquesan Islands (Ref. 41656 ).
Conservation status: LCLeast Concern

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