Author: (Risso, 1810)
Lipophrys pavo (Risso, 1810)
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Salaria pavo (Risso, 1810) (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: dorsal finrays XII + 22; anal finrays II + 23-24; pectoral finrays 14; pelvic finrays I + 3. Colour: basic coloration yellow-greenish, dark vertical bars, anteriorly with bright blue margins, posteriorly with a spotted pattern; behind eye a black spot with light blue or pink margin. Spawning males with high crest which is golden-brown or orange and with bulb glands at end of anal spines. Size: to 13 cm.
Habitat: intertidal zone and shallow bottoms, on rocks or sand between pebbles and vegetation, often in brackish waters down to 5ppt salinity. Behaviour: inhabiting crevices or piddock holes; during low tide males remain in cavities above water-level. Males court by nodding and undulating movements and drive females to spawning place by biting and butting. Food: benthic invertebrates, especially molluscs; also algae. Reproduction: May-July. Male guards eggs from several females.
Distribution: Mediterranean, Black Sea and Atlantic coasts, from Morocco to mouth of Loire, France; also in Suez Canal.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. De Buen, 1932: 18 | Eggert, 1932: 695-702, fig. 49 | Cipria, 1936: 1, pl. 1 | Padoa, 1956: 741-742, fig. 642, 644. | Fishelson, 1963: 81, fig. 1-9.
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.