Eastern Jumping Blenny, Lepidoblennius haplodactylus Steindachner, 1867

Scientific name: Lepidoblennius haplodactylus
Alternative name/s:
Jumping Blenny, Jumping Joey
Similar species:
Two species of Lepidoblennius occur in Australian waters. The second is the Western Jumping Blenny, L. marmoratus. The two species have separate distributions - the Western Jumping Blenny is found in South Australia and Western Australia. They can be separated by the broad connection of the fin membrane between the third and fourth dorsal spines in the Eastern Jumping Blenny, versus membrane connected only near the base of the fourth spine in the Western Jumping Blenny.
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    11/03/21
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Lepidoblennius haplodactylus Click to enlarge image
An Eastern Jumping Blenny in a shallow rockpool, Port Kembla, New South Wales, June 2005. Image: S. Schulz
© S. Schulz

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Lepidoblennius
    Species
    haplodactylus
    Family
    Tripterygiidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to 12 cm in length.

Introduction

The Eastern Jumping Blenny has a three separate dorsal fins and large pectoral fins. It is endemic to Australia.

Identification

The Eastern Jumping Blenny has a slightly compressed body and a scaleless head with a steep snout profile. It has three separate dorsal fins, a long-based anal fin and large pectoral fins.

The species is usually grey to greenish-yellow above and pale below. It often has dark saddles across the back and small pale spots.

Habitat

It is usually found on inshore rocky reefs and tidepools.

Distribution

The Eastern Jumping Blenny is endemic to Australia. It occurs in temperate marine waters from the central coast of Queensland to southern Victoria.

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

Other behaviours and adaptations

The standard name refers to the fact that the Eastern Jumping Blenny is sometimes seen skipping across rocks close to the water’s edge.

References

  1. Fricke, R. 1994. Tripterygiid fishes of Australia, New Zealand and the Southwest Pacific Ocean, with descriptions of 2 new genera and 16 species (Teleostei). Theses Zoologicae. 24: 1–585 figs 1–130.
  2. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437. (as Jumping Joey).