Diversity
The family Blenniidae is the largest family in its suborder, consisting of six tribes
with 53 genera and 345 species. A slender, elongate body and cryptic coloring assist
many blennies in their secretive lifestyle in crevices and holes on the bottom of
inshore waters. Blennies are known for their distinctive teeth, which are close-set
in a single row on each jaw, and some blennies have a huge canine on each lower jaw,
hence the descriptors “comb-toothed” and “saber-toothed." Blennies possess interesting
traits ranging from mimicry and hopping over terrestrial rocks to adopting separate
colors for courtship. Most blennies feed on algae and small invertebrates, but some
attack other fish to steal bites of fin, scales, or skin.
Geographic Range
Blennies can be found in the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans, in tropical, subtropical,
and temperate waters throughout the world.
- Biogeographic Regions
- oriental
- ethiopian
- neotropical
- australian
- oceanic islands
- arctic ocean
- indian ocean
- atlantic ocean
- pacific ocean
- mediterranean sea
Habitat
While blennies are primarily marine fishes, some members of the family occur in estuaries
or in fresh water, for example, in lakes in Italy. They inhabit shallow, inshore,
often intertidal, waters. Blennies are generally benthic, occupying grass beds, tide
pools, or areas near rocks, shells, or corals. The saber-toothed blennies,
Aspidontus
and
Meiacanthus
, are free swimming.
- Habitat Regions
- saltwater or marine
- freshwater
- Aquatic Biomes
- benthic
- reef
- lakes and ponds
- coastal
- brackish water
- Other Habitat Features
- estuarine
- intertidal or littoral
Systematic and Taxonomic History
The Blenniidae family consists of six tribes:
Salariini
with 26
genera,
Parablenniini
with about 12 genera,
Blenniini
with two
genera,
Omobranchini
with seven genera,
Phenablenniini
with one species, and
Neomophini
(saber-toothed blennies) with five genera (Smith-Vaniz 1976).
Blennies are one of several recently derived families (
Acanthuridae
,
Monacanthidae
,
Pomacentridae
,
Scaridae
,
Siganidae
) capable of exploiting reef algae and small colonial invertebrates. Reef herbivory
was primarily restricted to post-Cretaceous
perciformes
until these families underwent rapid evolution during the early Tertiary, 50 to 30
million years ago.
Physical Description
Blennies have scaleless, elongated bodies, and comb-like, slender, close-set teeth,
which can be either fixed or movable. A pair of giant canines give the saber-toothed
blennies their name, and in the poison-fanged blennies (
Meiacanthus
) these teeth are hollow and contain an injectable toxin. In blennies the palatines
are toothless, and the mouth not protractile. The head is often blunt and typically
adorned with tentacles or cirri. Blennies are usually small, but a few can reach 55
cm. The dorsal fin has more rays than spines, and the anal fin has two spines. Blennies
exhibit a wide variety of uniform colors as well as spots, stripes, or bands, and
some species exhibit two or three color patterns. Cryptic coloring is widespread.
(Click here to see a
fish diagram
).
Sexual dimorphism
is common to many of the blennies. In general males are larger than females and
in some species have a larger head. The cirri on the head can take distinct forms
in males and females, as can the anal spines. Males of some species have fleshy swellings
near the dorsal or anal fins that become larger during spawning season. Many blennies
assume spawning colors, most frequently the male, but sometimes the female as well.
Males tend to develop brighter coloration during spawning, especially under the jaw,
and in one species males take on a third color pattern while egg-tending.
- Other Physical Features
- ectothermic
- bilateral symmetry
- poisonous
- venomous
- Sexual Dimorphism
- male larger
- sexes colored or patterned differently
- male more colorful
- sexes shaped differently
- ornamentation
Development
Blennies generally pass through a pelagic, postlarval stage after a short planktonic
stage. The young pelagic fishes look different enough from their adult form that
they were classified at one time as a separate subfamily. Transformation into the
adult form occurs at some time after the postlarvae enter a littoral habitat.
Reproduction
Blennies attract mates near the holes or crevices in which spawning occurs. The females
will often initiate courtship, some assuming new coloration for spawning. When the
female enters the area the male engages in courtship behavior that can include changing
into spawning colors, bobbing the head up and down at the mouth of the cave, and leading
the female to the nest by swimming with an undulating motion. One the male may mate
with several females. Males of some species apparently move toward an olfactory cue
released by other males during spawning.
- Mating System
- polygynous
It is probable that blennies spawn throughout the year, probably during the day.
Some groups only spawn during warmer times of the year, and one species spawns every
three to four days. Spawning usually occurs in the male’s territory in a cave, crevice,
or other shelter. The male entices the female into the cave with various courtship
behaviors (see Reproduction: Mating Systems), at which point she begins to lay eggs
on the surfaces of the shelter. Spawning may take only a few minutes, or may last
more than a day; eggs may be deposited all at once, or on several trips into the nest.
Depending on the size of the cave, the male may enter with the female, or may make
intermittent trips into the hole to fertilize the eggs. The male is generally active
during spawning, deterring predators, and afterwards guarding the eggs until hatching.
Females may occasionally guard the nest as well. One male may mate with several females,
brooding all the eggs in the same nest.
- Key Reproductive Features
- iteroparous
- seasonal breeding
- year-round breeding
- gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
- sexual
- fertilization
- oviparous
Blennies deposit their eggs in clumps on the hidden surfaces of crevices or holes.
The male, and sometimes the female, guards the eggs until they hatch, at which point
the larvae are left to fend for themselves. During hatching some males energetically
fan the eggs.
- Parental Investment
- male parental care
- female parental care
Lifespan/Longevity
There was no information found regarding the lifespan of blenniids.
Behavior
Blennies tend to be secretive, remaining near the bottom and hiding their eggs in
crevices. Some hide in holes and dart out at their prey. Blennies may eat invertebrates
or algae, or survive by nipping the skin, scales, or fins of other fish. Some blennies,
known as “rock-hoppers,” are able to leap out of the water to cross the rocks between
pools. A number of blenniids engage in mimicry. One saber-toothed blenny,
Aspidontus taeniatus
, mimics the cleaner wrasse
Labroides dimidiatus
. The blenny is able to approach and take a nip out of large fish that are accustomed
to being cleaned by the nearly identical-looking wrasse. Several genera of blennies
(
Ecsenius
and
Plagiotremus
— also known as
Runula
) gain protection from their resemblance to poison fanged blennies (
Meiacanthus
), who use venom defensively (see Predation).
- Key Behaviors
- natatorial
- diurnal
- motile
- territorial
- social
Communication and Perception
Other than descriptions of visual and olfactory communication during mating (see Reproduction: Mating Systems), no specific information was found concerning communication methods used by this group.
- Other Communication Modes
- mimicry
Food Habits
Primarily bottom-dwellers, blennies tend to feed on other benthic organisms, both
algae and invertebrates. Some are planktivores, some carnivores; others scrape algae
off coral and rocks and in the process may be feeding on small organisms that live
in association with the algae. Some blennies nip pieces of skin, scales, or fins
from larger fish.
- Primary Diet
-
carnivore
- eats non-insect arthropods
- herbivore
- omnivore
- planktivore
Predation
Most blennies depend on a secretive lifestyle to survive, having coloration that blends
in with their surroundings and hiding on the bottom in shallow waters. Some can escape
predators by hopping over rocks from pool to pool.
Meiacanthus
can inject venom from the base of a groove in its large canine teeth. Any predator
that gulps
Meiacanthus
apparently receives a toxic bite on the inside of its mouth and
Meiacanthus
is able to swim away freely. Several genera of blennies (
Ecsenius
,
Plagiotremus
— also known as
Runula
) gain protection from mimicking the coloration of
Meiacanthus
. Other blenniids engage in mimicry as well; one saber-toothed blenny,
Aspidontus taeniatus
, mimics the cleaner wrasse
Labroides dimidiatus
in color and behavior. The blenny is able to approach and take a nip out of large
fish that are accustomed to being cleaned by the nearly identical-looking wrasse.
- Anti-predator Adaptations
- mimic
- cryptic
Ecosystem Roles
Blennies are largely herbivorous and as such play an important role in grazing reef
algae, keeping it from smothering corals. Blennies are a predominant group in intertidal
and inshore zones and are specialized to occupy holes and crevices.
- Ecosystem Impact
- parasite
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Blenniids are not food fishes, but the genera
Ecsenius
,
Salarias
, and
Meiacanthus
are gathered for aquarium use.
- Positive Impacts
- pet trade
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
No specific information was found concerning any negative impacts to humans.
Conservation Status
Currently, there is no known conservation threat to any member of this family.
Other Comments
The first fossil records of blenniids date from the upper Tertiary and upper Miocene
periods.
Additional Links
Contributors
Monica Weinheimer (author), Animal Diversity Web.
R. Jamil Jonna (author), Animal Diversity Web.
- oriental
-
found in the oriental region of the world. In other words, India and southeast Asia.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- Ethiopian
-
living in sub-Saharan Africa (south of 30 degrees north) and Madagascar.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- Neotropical
-
living in the southern part of the New World. In other words, Central and South America.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- Australian
-
Living in Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, New Guinea and associated islands.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- oceanic islands
-
islands that are not part of continental shelf areas, they are not, and have never been, connected to a continental land mass, most typically these are volcanic islands.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- Arctic Ocean
-
the body of water between Europe, Asia, and North America which occurs mostly north of the Arctic circle.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- Atlantic Ocean
-
the body of water between Africa, Europe, the southern ocean (above 60 degrees south latitude), and the western hemisphere. It is the second largest ocean in the world after the Pacific Ocean.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- Pacific Ocean
-
body of water between the southern ocean (above 60 degrees south latitude), Australia, Asia, and the western hemisphere. This is the world's largest ocean, covering about 28% of the world's surface.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- saltwater or marine
-
mainly lives in oceans, seas, or other bodies of salt water.
- freshwater
-
mainly lives in water that is not salty.
- benthic
-
Referring to an animal that lives on or near the bottom of a body of water. Also an aquatic biome consisting of the ocean bottom below the pelagic and coastal zones. Bottom habitats in the very deepest oceans (below 9000 m) are sometimes referred to as the abyssal zone. see also oceanic vent.
- reef
-
structure produced by the calcium carbonate skeletons of coral polyps (Class Anthozoa). Coral reefs are found in warm, shallow oceans with low nutrient availability. They form the basis for rich communities of other invertebrates, plants, fish, and protists. The polyps live only on the reef surface. Because they depend on symbiotic photosynthetic algae, zooxanthellae, they cannot live where light does not penetrate.
- coastal
-
the nearshore aquatic habitats near a coast, or shoreline.
- brackish water
-
areas with salty water, usually in coastal marshes and estuaries.
- estuarine
-
an area where a freshwater river meets the ocean and tidal influences result in fluctuations in salinity.
- intertidal or littoral
-
the area of shoreline influenced mainly by the tides, between the highest and lowest reaches of the tide. An aquatic habitat.
- ectothermic
-
animals which must use heat acquired from the environment and behavioral adaptations to regulate body temperature
- bilateral symmetry
-
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
- poisonous
-
an animal which has a substance capable of killing, injuring, or impairing other animals through its chemical action (for example, the skin of poison dart frogs).
- venomous
-
an animal which has an organ capable of injecting a poisonous substance into a wound (for example, scorpions, jellyfish, and rattlesnakes).
- sexual ornamentation
-
one of the sexes (usually males) has special physical structures used in courting the other sex or fighting the same sex. For example: antlers, elongated tails, special spurs.
- polygynous
-
having more than one female as a mate at one time
- iteroparous
-
offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).
- seasonal breeding
-
breeding is confined to a particular season
- year-round breeding
-
breeding takes place throughout the year
- sexual
-
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
- fertilization
-
union of egg and spermatozoan
- external fertilization
-
fertilization takes place outside the female's body
- oviparous
-
reproduction in which eggs are released by the female; development of offspring occurs outside the mother's body.
- male parental care
-
parental care is carried out by males
- female parental care
-
parental care is carried out by females
- natatorial
-
specialized for swimming
- diurnal
-
- active during the day, 2. lasting for one day.
- motile
-
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
- territorial
-
defends an area within the home range, occupied by a single animals or group of animals of the same species and held through overt defense, display, or advertisement
- social
-
associates with others of its species; forms social groups.
- visual
-
uses sight to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- mimicry
-
imitates a communication signal or appearance of another kind of organism
- visual
-
uses sight to communicate
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- cryptic
-
having markings, coloration, shapes, or other features that cause an animal to be camouflaged in its natural environment; being difficult to see or otherwise detect.
- parasite
-
an organism that obtains nutrients from other organisms in a harmful way that doesn't cause immediate death
- pet trade
-
the business of buying and selling animals for people to keep in their homes as pets.
- carnivore
-
an animal that mainly eats meat
- herbivore
-
An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants.
- omnivore
-
an animal that mainly eats all kinds of things, including plants and animals
- planktivore
-
an animal that mainly eats plankton
References
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Springer, V. 1994. Blennies. Pp. 214-217 in Encyclopedia of Fishes – second edition . San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
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Thresher, R. 1984. Reproduction in Reef Fishes . Neptune City, NJ: T.F.H. Publications.
Wheeler, A. 1985. The World Encyclopedia of Fishes . London: Macdonald.