Leopard Blenny, Exallias brevis (Kner, 1868)

Scientific name: Exallias brevis
Alternative name/s:
Pink-spotted Blenny, Shortbodied Blenny
Leopard Blenny, Exallias brevis Click to enlarge image
A Leopard Blenny at a depth of 8m, North Solitary Island, New South Wales, March 2011. Image: Stephen Smith
© Stephen Smith

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Exallias
    Species
    brevis
    Family
    Blenniidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The Leopard Blenny grows to 14 cm in length.

Introduction

The video below was taken by Bruce Carlson in Hanauma Bay, Hawaii. Click on the YouTube link for full details.

Identification

The Leopard Blenny has a fringe of cirri running across the nape and a branched tentacle above both eyes.The species is white with small spots on the head, body and fins. The spots are brown in females and juveniles. Males have brown spots on the head and abdomen but red spots on the rest of the body. The dorsal and caudal fins of males are usually red. E. brevis is the only species in the genus Exallias.

Male Leopard Blenny
A male Leopard Blenny at a depth of 20m, North Solitary Island, New South Wales, 22 January 2000. Image: Ian Shaw
© Ian Shaw

Habitat

The species is found on coral reefs.

Distribution

It occurs throughout the Indo-Pacific. In Australia it is recorded from the central coast of Western Australia around the tropical north of the country and south to southern Queensland.

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.

Feeding and diet

It eats coral polyps.

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. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  4. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557. (as Shortbodied Blenny)