Australian blenny
Encyclopedia
The Australian blenny are small marine blennioid fish of the genus Ecsenius
. They are small and reddish-brown with a white ventral side. Australian blennies inhabit the shallow marine waters of the tropics. They are often found along the Great Barrier Reef
and Coral Sea
of Australia.
described the new species Ecsenius australianus in 1988. Springer thought E. australianus most closely related to E. fourmanoiri
. Similarities between these two species include "broad, darkly dusky bands and stripes" and "dark opercular
margin[s]", which are not found in other members of the "Opsifrontalis Group". Preserved specimens also bear similarity to E. opsifrontalis
. However, E. australianus differ from E. opsifrontalis and E. fourmanoiri by their number of fins rays and vertebrae.
(gill covering) through the eyes. The colour of the stripes can vary by specimen, between bright orange-red and pinkish-brown. Towards the posterior end, colouration turns grey.
The dorsal fin
has twelve spines and 13–15 soft rays. The anal fin has two spines and 15–17 soft rays. The pectoral fin usually has 13 soft rays but can occasionally have 14. The tail (caudal) fin possesses 14 rays.
Australian blennies are oviparous and lay eggs. The eggs develop at the bottom of the body of water and are adhesive.
and Coral Sea
. They are associated with coral reef
s and occur in shallow waters along the northern Great Barrier Reef
of Australia. Whilst they are currently restricted to the northern Great Barrier Reef region, their range may expand southwards with those of several other similarly distributed species as temperatures increase due to climate change
.
Ecsenius
Ecsenius is a large genus of fish in the Blenniidae family. It currently contains 53 described species.-Species:*Ecsenius aequalis, Fourline blenny*Ecsenius alleni, Allen's blenny*Ecsenius aroni, Aron's blenny...
. They are small and reddish-brown with a white ventral side. Australian blennies inhabit the shallow marine waters of the tropics. They are often found along the Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world'slargest reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately...
and Coral Sea
Coral Sea
The Coral Sea is a marginal sea off the northeast coast of Australia. It is bounded in the west by the east coast of Queensland, thereby including the Great Barrier Reef, in the east by Vanuatu and by New Caledonia, and in the north approximately by the southern extremity of the Solomon Islands...
of Australia.
Taxonomy
Victor G. SpringerVictor G. Springer
Victor Gruschka Springer is Senior Scientist emeritus, Division of Fishes at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C....
described the new species Ecsenius australianus in 1988. Springer thought E. australianus most closely related to E. fourmanoiri
Ecsenius fourmanoiri
Ecsenius fourmanoiri is a species of combtooth blenny in the genus Ecsenius. It is found in the western Pacific ocean. It was named by Victor Gruschka Springer in 1972, and can reach a maximum length of 4.9 centimetres. Blennies in this species feed primarily off of benthic algae and weeds....
. Similarities between these two species include "broad, darkly dusky bands and stripes" and "dark opercular
Operculum (fish)
The operculum of a bony fish is the hard bony flap covering and protecting the gills. In most fish, the rear edge of the operculum roughly marks the division between the head and the body....
margin[s]", which are not found in other members of the "Opsifrontalis Group". Preserved specimens also bear similarity to E. opsifrontalis
Ecsenius opsifrontalis
Ecsenius opsifrontalis, known commonly as the Comical blenny in Micronesia, is a species of combtooth blenny in the genus Ecsenius. It is found in coral reefs in the Pacific ocean. It was named by W.M. Chapman and L.P. Schultz in 1952, and can reach a maximum length of 5 centimetres...
. However, E. australianus differ from E. opsifrontalis and E. fourmanoiri by their number of fins rays and vertebrae.
Description
Australian blennies are small fish, reaching lengths of only 6 centimetres (2.4 in). The dorsal two-thirds of the body is reddish-brown, with white spots forming two rows. The ventral third is white in colour. A reddish-brown stripe with white edges passes from the rear end of the operculumOperculum (fish)
The operculum of a bony fish is the hard bony flap covering and protecting the gills. In most fish, the rear edge of the operculum roughly marks the division between the head and the body....
(gill covering) through the eyes. The colour of the stripes can vary by specimen, between bright orange-red and pinkish-brown. Towards the posterior end, colouration turns grey.
The dorsal fin
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
has twelve spines and 13–15 soft rays. The anal fin has two spines and 15–17 soft rays. The pectoral fin usually has 13 soft rays but can occasionally have 14. The tail (caudal) fin possesses 14 rays.
Australian blennies are oviparous and lay eggs. The eggs develop at the bottom of the body of water and are adhesive.
Distribution and habitat
Australian blennies are distributed in the western Pacific Ocean, occurring in the Great Barrier ReefGreat Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world'slargest reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately...
and Coral Sea
Coral Sea
The Coral Sea is a marginal sea off the northeast coast of Australia. It is bounded in the west by the east coast of Queensland, thereby including the Great Barrier Reef, in the east by Vanuatu and by New Caledonia, and in the north approximately by the southern extremity of the Solomon Islands...
. They are associated with coral reef
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
s and occur in shallow waters along the northern Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world'slargest reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately...
of Australia. Whilst they are currently restricted to the northern Great Barrier Reef region, their range may expand southwards with those of several other similarly distributed species as temperatures increase due to climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
.