| Main Ref. | Williams, J.T., 1988 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks | While most other species of the genus have bulbous testes (length equals width), the males of this species has elongate testes, length is 2-3 times the width (Reff. 529). |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral (shape guide) | elongated |
| Cross section | oval |
| Dorsal head profile | more or less straight |
| Type of eyes | more or less normal |
| Type of mouth/snout | more or less normal |
| Position of mouth | terminal |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Diagnosis: Dorsal fin XII, 15-17 (usually 16), deeply incised above the last spine; anal fin II, 16-18 (usually 17); pectoral rays 14-16 (in general for the genus); pelvic fin I, 4; caudal fin procurrent rays 10-14. Gill rakers 25-31. Vertebrae 10 + 21-23 (usually 22); last pleural rib on 12th, last epipleural rib on 18th-23rd vertebral centrum. Body scaleless. Lateral line, anterior portion with small scalelike flaps, LL tubes 11-17 (rarely 9-10), series ends below and posterior to dorsal fin ray 12. Narrow inner ring of iris yellow, remainder black. Lower lip crenulated mesially, plicate laterally. Upper lip crenulae 34-52. Cirri, nuchal 28-42, supraorbital 4-18, nasal 8-27. Nuchal cirri in 2 groups, not overlapping at midpoint of nape, no nuchal flaps. First and second dorsal fin spine almost same height. Species name (albus - white; apicalis - apex) refers to pale tips of dorsal-fin spines. Adult brown in body color with spots; brown pupil-sized spot behind each eye. Ophioblennius stage overall light brown; lower lip both corners with dark spot; cirri brown; fins pale (in alcohol); dentary with 2-4 canines posteriorly (Ref. 529). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | 1 Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| Scales in lateral series | |
| Scale rows above lateral line | |
| Scale rows below lateral line | |
| Scales around caudal peduncle | |
| Barbels | 0 |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | 25 - 31 |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | 10 - 10 |
| total | 31 - 32 |
| Attributes | extending over most of the back length |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | 12 - 12 |
| Soft-rays total | 15 - 17 |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | more or less truncate; more or less normal |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Spines total | 2 - 2 |
| Soft-rays total | 16 - 18 |
| Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
| Spines 0 | |
| Soft-rays 14 - 16 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
| Position thoracic before origin of D1 | |
| Spines 1 | |
| Soft-rays 4 - 4 |