Animal Species:Coral Blenny, Ecsenius yaeyamaensis (Aoyagi, 1954)

Identification

The Coral Blenny has a pale body with a row of dark dots and dashes extending from behind the eye. There is a Y-shaped dark mark on the pectoral fin base.

Size range

The species grows to 6.5 cm in length.

Similar Species

A similar-looking species, the Great Barrier Reef Blenny, E. stictus, is found on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

Distribution

The Coral Blenny occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific, from Sri Lanka, north to Japan, south to Australia and east to Vanuatu.

In Australia the Coral Blenny is known from the north-western coast of Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Coral Blenny specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The species is found on coral reefs in sheltered lagoons at depths from 1 m to 15 m.

Classification

Species:

yaeyamaensis

Genus:

Ecsenius

Family:

Blenniidae

Class:

Actinopterygii

Subphylum:

Vertebrata

Phylum:

Chordata

Kingdom:

Animalia

What does this mean?

References

1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
2. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
3. Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
4. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 251. (as E. stictus)

Last Updated: 22 February 2013

Tags fish, ichthyology, Coral Blenny, Ecsenius yaeyamaensis, silver, black, 'normal fish', < 10 cm, no pattern, countershaded, coral reef, marine, adult,