Symphodus bailloni

Author: (Valenciennes, 1839)

Symphodus (Crenilabrus) bailloni (Valenciennes, 1839)

Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Symphodus (Crenilabrus) bailloni (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1839) (updated 2009-06-25)

Diagnosis: head length equal to or shorter than body depth. Preorbital shorter than post-orbital. Teeth rather small (3-5/5-8). Numerous (50 130) cephalic pores on snout. Lips with 5-7 folds. Dorsal finrays XIVXV + 9-11; anal finrays III + 9-11. Scales along lateral line 33-38, on temporo-occipital surface 2-3; rows of scales above laleral line 4.5, on inter-operculum 3 (13-18 scales), on cheek 2-3, behind eye I (2). Gillrakers 12-15. Vertebrae 31-33. Colour: sexual dimorphism. Both sexes with a dark spot on caudal peduncle and another brown-black or dark blue spot on beginning of soft part of dorsal fin; a blue arc on base of pectoral fin. Often 5 vertical dark brown patches on upper part of flanks, sometimes reaching belly and anal fin. Juveniles and females: brown, paler on belly; 3 longitudinal dark-brown stripes on middle upper part of sides. A large dark brown, bar-like blotch on snout. Adult females: dark grey or black urogenital papilla. Males: greenish, reddish or bright brown. Head with brown-green, orange stripes. Size: to 20 cm SL. usually 15-18 cm.

Habitat: littoral, near rocks and eel-grass beds (1-50 m). Food: no data. Reproduction: spring.

Distribution: eastern Atlantic, from North Sea to Mauritania. In Mediterranean, off coast of Spain and the Balearic Is.

Eggs, larvae and young stages. No data.
Otoliths (sagitta). Sanz Echeverría, 1937: 30, pl. 2 (fig. 1-4).