WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Spike Eye Blenny

Ecsenius pulcher

Also known as: Coral Blenny, Gulf Blenny, Ornate Blenny, Reef Blenny, Rock Blenny, Striped-tail Blenny

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2014
Adult
@Gonzofue · Le Meridien in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates · September 20141 / 2
01

Overview

Found singly, hiding in holes on coral outcrops, of lagoons and fringing coastal reefs.

Combtooth Blennies are the largest family of blennies, found in both tropical and subtropical waters and freshwater habitats, as the name suggests they have comb like teeth lining their jaws, well suited for scraping food off hard surfaces!
Reef and rock blennies are usually territorial and have their own areas of rock pools which they skip and jump over, scraping algae from the surface of dead corals. Some male blennies have small harems of arguing females.
Males and females often have different colouring and features.

02

How to identify

Pattern
stripes
Head & Mouth
starry eye

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Indian Ocean
  • Country only · 2
LIVES IN

Found singly, hiding in holes on coral outcrops, of lagoons and fringing coastal reefs.

04

Adult photos 2

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderBlenniiformes
    5. familyBlenniidae
    6. genusEcsenius
    7. speciesEcsenius pulcher (Murray, 1887)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Combtooth Blennies (Blenniidae)