©Andy: Adult
©Andy: Adult
©Mark Rosenstein: showing distinctive marking below eye
Colours
Distinguishing features
They have a wide range of colour variations. However all variations have dark eyes, silver irises and a pair of straight cirri between the eyes. They also all have a pale arc that shows beneath and behind each eye.
Size
- Up to 11 cm (Standard length)
Depth range
- From 1 m to 25 m
Synonyms
Similar taxa
Distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
They are found in reef habitats not exposed to heavy wave action. They typically rest on the tops of massive Porites coral heads in shallow water.
Behaviour
They live in small family groups on top of prominant coral heads and bommies. They rest on their pectoral fins in between bouts of feeding and chasing each other around the territory.
Diet
These fishes are mainly detritivores, combing small particles of organic material from the turf algae found inside the damselfish territories of Ward's Damsel and the Dusky Gregory, which typically farm algae on the tops of the bommies favoured by the blenny.
Web resources
References
- Depczynski, M. and D.R. Bellwood (2005). Wave energy and spatial variability in community structure of small cryptic coral reef fishes, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 303: 283-293. LIRS catalog number 932.
- Townsend, K.A. and I.R. Tibbetts (2000). Biomass and distribution of herbivorous blennies in the southern Great Barrier Reef, Journal of Fish Biology, 56: 774-791. LIRS catalog number 90023.
- Wilson, S.K. (2000). Trophic status and feeding selectivity of blennies (Blenniidae: Salariini), Marine Biology, 136: 431-437. LIRS catalog number 690.
- View all references