Lined rockskipper
Istiblennius lineatus
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Lined rockskipper
- Scientific
- Istiblennius lineatus
- Dhivehi
- ރޮނގުދެމި ވެންފުންނަRongudhemi venfunna
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- Up to about 15 cm (total length) (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 14 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 0 to 3 m
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2009
Description
A pale grey to greenish blenny with dark lengthwise lines that break into dashes near the tail; males have a fleshy crest on the head. It lives in tide pools and on rocky shores, grazing algae, and can leap from pool to pool.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi Wikipedia (MRS-derived) gives rongudhemi venfunna, a name coined in MRS (1997).
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Istiblennius-lineatus.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ރޮނގުދެމި_ވެންފުންނަ
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Istiblennius_lineatus_292898973.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Rongudhemi venfunna' (Latin form). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ރޮނގުދެމި ވެންފުންނަ' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FishBase also lists 'Digu-funna', 'Kattu' under India (Minicoy/Lakshadweep Mahl dialect); not used. FLAG: the source states no traditional name was recorded and this descriptive name was coined for the book; it is not an established fishermen's name.