Blenniella

Common Names

The common name for Blenniella is "combtooth blenny". B. caudolineata is also known as the "lined combtooth blenny" while B. chrysospilos is known as the "golden-spotted combtooth blenny".

Characteristics

Blenniella are characterized by their elongated body shape, compressed laterally. These fish typically have a relatively small head with a prominent snout, which may be rounded or pointed, and a small mouth that is located at the tip of the snout. The upper jaw is protrusible, which means it can be extended forward, allowing them to snatch small prey. They have small, rounded fins and can have a single or paired dorsal fins. The anal fin is short, and the caudal fin can be rounded, truncate or forked.

Blenniella species have a distinctive pattern of small, comb-like teeth on their jaws, which is where they get their name. These teeth are used to scrape algae and other small organisms from rocks and coral. They also have a distinctive "cirrus", or a fleshy tentacle, above each eye.

Environment

Blenniella inhabit the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region. They are typically found in shallow reefs, rocky shores, and seagrass beds. These fish are often found hiding in crevices and under rocks. B. caudolineata and B. chrysospilos are found in the western central Pacific, while B. gibbosa is found in the eastern central Pacific.

References

• Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2023). "Blenniella" in FishBase. February 2023 version.
• Nelson, Joseph S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-25031-7.
• Randall, John E. (2007). Reef and Shore Fishes of the South Pacific. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-3085-3.