Description:

Dorsal spines: 12-13; Dorsal rays: 19-21; Anal spines: 2; Anal rays: 21-23.

Cirrus on each side of nape. Fleshy crest on top of head of males.

Males darkly dusky with about 5-6 pairs of bands on body and diagonal pale stripes on dorsal fin.
Females similar to males but paler, posterior band pairs broken into numerous spots. Dorsal fin spotted. Very large females sometimes approximating male colour pattern.
 

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown.  Max Length: Male 16cm TL, Female 13.2 cm SL.

Common on rocky flats in intertidal areas, and in areas with large rubble pieces. In Seychelles on granite boulders and in rock pools (depth 0-5m, usually 0-1m). Hides 
in cracks or holes when not feeding. Adults are able to jump out of the water between pools when pursued. They can breathe air when out of the water and may remain out 
of water under rocks or seaweed. Feeds on filamentous algae. Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate. Distinct pairing.
 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is not caught in artisanal fishery.

Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2020). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Istiblennius-edentulus.html (19/05/20).
Smith, M & Heemstra, P Eds. (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4
Williams, J.T. & Smith-Vaniz, W.F. (2014). Istiblennius edentulus. The IUCN Red List 2014. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T46079801A46664399.en. (19/05/20).

Nevill, J.E.G. (2020). Istiblennius edentulus, Rippled rockskipper. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/istiblennius-edentulus-forster-schneider-1801/ (edited 20/06/22).