Blenniiformes
Blennies | |
---|---|
Ophioblennius steindachneri | |
Ecsenius axelrodi from East Timor | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
(unranked): | Ovalentaria |
Order: | Blenniiformes Bleeker, 1860 |
Families | |
See text |
Blenny (from the
Families
The six "true blenny" families are:[1][2]
- sabre-toothed blennies
- flagblennies
- clinids, including the giant kelpfish
- Dactyloscopidae Gill, 1859 - sand stargazers
- Labrisomidae Clark Hubbs, 1952
- Tripterygiidae Whitley, 1931 - threefin blennies
Similarities with other families
The blenniiformids are superficially quite similar to members of the
Morphology
Blenniformids are generally small fish, only occasionally reaching lengths up to 55 cm, with elongated bodies (some almost eel-like), and relatively large eyes and mouths. Their dorsal fins are often continuous and long; the pelvic fins typically have a single embedded spine and are short and slender, situated before the pectoral fins. The tail fin is rounded. The blunt heads of blenniiformids often possess elaborate whisker-like structures called cirri.
Behavior and feeding
As generally
As far as predation, blennies depend on a secretive lifestyle, hiding on the sea floors in shallow water, with cryptic coloration.[7]
Venom
For protection, there is only one genus that is truly venomous, namely Meiacanthus. These fish can inject venom from their mandibular, hollow fangs.[8] They have venom that contains the opioid-like enkephalin, phospholipase, and neuropeptide Y.[9]
Distribution
True blennies are widely distributed in coastal waters, often abundant and easily observed which has made them the subject for many studies of
Gallery
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fringelip blenny
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Blenny hiding in a hole near Gilli Lawa Laut, Indonesia
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Bullethead rockskipper in Kona
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Marbled blenny, Entomacrodus marmoratus in Kona
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1-118-34233-6. Archived from the originalon 2019-04-08. Retrieved 2019-02-23.
- S2CID 31014657.
- ^ a b Allen, G (1994). Fishes of the Tropical Eastern Pacific. University of Hawaii Press.
- ^ a b Böhlke, J., C. Chaplin. 1994. Fishes of the Bahamas and Adjacent Tropical Waters. Wynnewood, Pa: Published for the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia by Livingston.
- ^ a b Helfman, G., B. Collete, D. Facey. 1997. The Diversity of Fishes. Malden, MA: Blackwell.
- ^ a b Moyle, P., J. Cech. 2000. Fishes: An Introduction to Ichthyology – fourth edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
- ^ a b c Springer, V. 1994. Blennies. Pp. 214-217 in W Eschmeyer, J Paxton, eds. Encyclopedia of Fishes – second edition. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
- ^ Wheeler, A. 1985. The World Encyclopedia of Fishes. London: Macdonald.
- ^ Losey GS. 1972. Predation protection in the poison-fang blenny, Meiacanthus atrodorsalis, and its mimics, Ecsenius bicolor and Runula laudandus (Blenniidae). Pac Sci 26(2): 129-139.
- PMID 24067147.
- "Blennioidei". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 4 April 2008.
- Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 364: 560. Archived from the original on 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2011-05-19.