Coral Blenny, Ecsenius yaeyamaensis Click to enlarge image
A Coral Blenny at a depth of 15m, Redang Island, Malaysia, April 2001. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Ecsenius
    Species
    yaeyamaensis
    Family
    Blenniidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 6.5 cm in length.

Introduction

The Coral Blenny occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific, on coral reefs in sheltered lagoons.

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.

Habitat

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

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 data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

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)