Author: (Vinciguerra, 1883)
Lipophrys nigriceps (Vinciguerra, 1883)
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Lipophrys nigriceps (Vinciguerra, 1883) (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: dorsal finrays XII + 15; anal finrays II + 15-16; pectoral finrays 12; pelvic finrays I + 3. Eyes relatively large. Colour: head marbled, body red; white spots along back, irregular black spots on sides sometimes forming net-like patterns. Spawning males with black crown, yellow cheeks and club-like glands at ends of soft dorsal finrays. Size: to 43 mm.
Habitat: occur in caves and other dimly lit biotopes not deeper than 6 m. Behaviour: active during daytime. Flight distance wide. Colour pattern of head may change very rapidly. Males court by nodding head. Food: predominantly small sessile invertebrates and algae, to a lesser degree harpacticoids. Reproduction: spawning observed in May and June; male guards eggs from several females.
Distribution: Mediterranean.
Subspecies:
Lipophrys nigriceps nigriceps: no dark spot on caudal peduncle. Occurs on almost all northern coasts of Mediterranean.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. No data.
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.
Lipophrys nigriceps portmahonis Castanos, 1933: dark spot on caudal peduncle. Found off the Balearics and southern Mediterranean coasts. A senior synonym for L. n. cypriacus Bath, 1972 (Clofnam 164.1.10.2).
Eggs, larvae and young stages. No data.
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.