BLENNIIDAE Xiphasia setifer, 29.2 cm SL (preserved secimen; photo by Seishi Kimura) Xiphasia setifer, 31.3 cm SL (from Mie Pref., Japan; photo by Seishi Kimura) Xiphasia setifer Swainson, 1839 Hairtail Snakeblenny D XIII-XIV, 105-119; A II, 107-119; P1 12-14; P2 I, 3; V 15-16 + 105-119 = 121-135. Body extremely elongate, ribbon-like. No cirri, tentacles or crest on head. A large canine tooth on each side of lower jaw anteriorly. Gill opening restricted to side of head. Origin of dorsal fin over anterior part of eye. Caudal fin rounded, continuous with dorsal and anal fins, the middle 2 rays elongated as filament in males; no caudal-fin rays branched. Color: body light brown with 24-28 broad brown bars on body, extending into dorsal fin; a black spot or ocellus usually present distally in dorsal fin between 5th and 7th dorsal spines; margin of dorsal fin broadly blackish. Size: attaining to ca. 55 cm. Distribution: Indo-West Pacific, including the Red Sea, Andaman Sea, southern Japan, Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia. Remarks: inhabits muddy bottoms in bays and shallow waters. (Hisashi Imamura)