The Largemouth Blenny,Labrisomus xanti, New to the California Marine Fauna with a List of and Key to the Species of Labrisomidae, Clinidae, and Chaenopsidae found in California Waters

Abstract

We report here on the first observations and capture of breeding populations of the largemouth blenny, Labrisomus xanti Gill, 1 860 (Family Labrisornidae) in California marine waters. We also provide a list of those members of the closely related families Labrisornidae, Clinidae, and Chaenopsidae that are found off California with a key to these species.The first observation of this species in California waters occurred on 15 July 2015, when Callie Mack and Tara Howell observed one individual in about 5 m of water in front of the Marine Room Restaurant (La Jolla Shores) (32°5rN, 117°16*W) among low lying rocks. Ms. Mack described the fish as having "a blenny-like profile, about 6 or 7 inches long (the length of my hand), bright red and covered with many small blue spots, and a partial bright blue ring at the base of each eye. It was perched in a rock crevice on its red pelvic fins. Pectoral fins were red shading to yellow. Dorsal fin was also bright red with blue spots on the foredorsal [sic] part. It had 3 rows of small for-like (or eyelash-like) cirri, also covered with blue spots, on the top of its head, one set just below each eye, and 2 rows above the eyes on the forehead. It was either curious or territorial (probably the latter); kept coming out of its crevice, sitting in the open for a few moments, then going back in."Ms. Mack and Ms. Howell returned to the same general area on 19 July 2015 and observed at least four different individuals, two on each dive and all at a bottom depth of 3-4 m. On this occasion she provided us with a number of images of one of the individuals that was red and she described it as quite territorial as it chased off a California sheephead and lunged at Ms. Howell's video camera. From Ms. Mack's initial description, and her subsequent photographs, we determined that these fish were most likely the largemouth blenny, Labrisomus xanti and that the red individuals were breeding males (Thomson et al. 2000),Additional observations were made of this species at the same general site on 11 and 19 August 2015 by Rogei Uziin who observed at least five unique individuals. Similar to previous sightings, he observed the fish at depth of 3-4 m on low-lying rocks. However on these days, Mr. Uzun observed what was likely mating behavior and nest guarding. On both 1 1 and 1 9 August, he observed, photographed, and video recorded a bright red individual (Fig. 1) courting and apparently fertilizing the eggs of two drabber individuals (Fig. 2). This male then guarded and aerated the apparent eggs. Similar courtship and parental behaviors are known for other species of the genus Labrisomus (Gibran et al. 2004).Janna Nichols made the first observation of this species known to us away from the

Over, Under, Sideways and Down: Patterns of Marine Species Richness in Nearshore Habitats off Santa Catalina Island, California

“…Therefore, our findings are in agreement with previous studies, which suggest that that species loss and ecosystem change have become more widespread over shorter ecological timescales [58][59][60]. For instance, a northward shift in the species ranges of several subtropical fishes from the Pacific coast of Mexico has resulted in the frequent occurrence of both the finescale triggerfish Balistes polylepis and largemouth blenny Labrisomus xanti in Big Fisherman's Cove [15,61]. Other species of fish whose northern ranges have expanded into Blue Cavern Onshore SMCA include the Rainbow scorpionfish Scorpaenodes xyris [62], as well as the cardinalfishes Apogon guadalupensis and A. pacificus [63].…”

Environmental DNA metabarcoding reveals distinct fish assemblages supported by seagrass (Zostera marina and Zostera pacifica) beds in different geographic settings in Southern California

“…One particular species of interest that was found in both seagrass meadows but not in the sandy site was the largemouth blenny, Labrisomus xanti. The largemouth blenny is a species native to Mexico with its previous range extending to the coast of Baja California [79]. The years of 2013-2015 brought an unusually warm ENSO event which caused a larger than normal distribution of warm water within the Pacific.…”

“…The years of 2013-2015 brought an unusually warm ENSO event which caused a larger than normal distribution of warm water within the Pacific. Due to this, the first sighting of the largemouth blenny outside of its historical range was in La Jolla, California and Catalina Island in 2015 [79]. A recent study by Stockton et al, 2021 evaluating their population off of Catalina Island found this species to be positively correlated with rocky habitat and negatively correlated with sandy habitats [80].…”

Historical biogeography supports Point Conception as the site of turnover between temperate East Pacific ichthyofaunas

“…Whether these new additions will persist in California over the long term is unclear. Breeding populations of at least one new species have been documented [62]. Hubbs [30] noted that subtropical species that entered during the 1853-1860 warm period persisted through the 1880s and were probably breeding within California.…”