Australian blenny
Australian blenny | |
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Australian blenny in East Timor | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Blenniiformes |
Family: | Blenniidae |
Genus: | Ecsenius |
Species: | E. australianus
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Binomial name | |
Ecsenius australianus V. G. Springer , 1988 |
The Australian blenny (Ecsenius australianus) is a small marine
Taxonomy
This species is believed to be most closely related to E. fourmanoiri.[3] Similarities between these two species include "broad, darkly dusky bands and stripes" and "dark opercular margin[s]", which are not found in other members of the "Opsifrontalis Group".[3] Preserved specimens also bear similarity to E. opsifrontalis. However, E. australianus differ from E. opsifrontalis and E. fourmanoiri by their number of fins rays and vertebrae.[3]
Description
Australian blennies are small fish, reaching lengths of only 6 centimetres (2.4 in).[4] The dorsal two-thirds of the body is reddish-brown, with white spots forming two rows. The ventral third is white in colour.[2] A reddish-brown stripe with white edges passes from the rear end of the operculum (gill covering) through the eyes.[2] The colour of the stripes can vary by specimen, between bright orange-red and pinkish brown. Towards the posterior end, colouration turns grey.[3]
The
Australian blennies are
Distribution and habitat
Australian blennies are distributed in the western Pacific Ocean, occurring in the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea.[2] They are associated with coral reefs and occur in shallow waters along the northern Great Barrier Reef of Australia.[4] Whilst they are currently restricted to the northern Great Barrier Reef region, their range may expand southwards with those of several other similarly distributed species as temperatures increase due to climate change.[5]
References
- . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Australian Blenny, Ecsenius australianus (Springer, 1988)". Australian Museum. June 2009. Archived from the original on 23 October 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
- ^ .
- ^ a b c Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2010). "Ecsenius australianus" in FishBase. January 2010 version.
- ^ Munday, Philip L.; Geoffrey P Jones; Marcus Sheaves; Ashley J Williams; Gillian Goby. "Vulnerability of fishes of the Great Barrier Reef to climate change" (PDF). p. 375. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2010.