| Blennies | |
|---|---|
 | |
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| Ophioblennius steindachneri | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Clade: | Ovalentaria |
| Order: | Blenniiformes Bleeker, 1860 |
| Type species | |
| Blennius ocellaris | |
| Families | |
See text | |
Blenny (from theGreekἡ βλέννα andτό βλέννος, mucus, slime) is acommon name for many types offish, including several families ofpercomorph marine, brackish, and some freshwater fish sharing similar morphology and behaviour. Sixfamilies are considered "true blennies", grouped under theorderBlenniiformes; its members are referred to asblenniiformids. About 151genera and nearly 900 species have beendescribed within the order. The order was formerly classified as a suborder of thePerciformes but the 5th Edition ofFishes of the World divided the Perciformes into a number of new orders and the Blenniiformes were placed in the percomorphcladeOvalentaria alongside the such taxa asCichliformes,Mugiliformes andGobiesociformes.[1]
The six "true blenny" families are:[1][2]
The blenniiformids are superficially quite similar to members of thegoby anddragonet families, as well as several other unrelated families whose members have occasionally been given the name "blenny". Many blennies demonstratemimicry of other species, such asAspidontus taeniatus. This mimicry allows the blenny to get up close to fish that would normally letLabroides dimidiatus (the bluestreak cleaner wrasse), clean them. The blenny then takes nips or larger bites out of the unsuspecting fish. There are two genera of blennies that demonstrateBatesian mimicry -Ecsenius andPlagiotremus.[3][4][5][6][7]
Blenniformids are generally small fish, only occasionally reaching lengths up to 55 cm, with elongated bodies (some almosteel-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.
As generallybenthic fish, blenniiformids spend much of their time on or near the sea floor; many are reclusive and may burrow in sandy substrates or inhabit crevices inreefs, the lower stretches of rivers, or even emptymollusc shells. Some blennies, otherwise known as "rock-hoppers", leap from the water onto rocks in order to reach other pools.[3][4][5][6][7]
As far as predation, blennies depend on a secretive lifestyle, hiding on the sea floors in shallow water, with cryptic coloration.[7]
For protection, there is only one genus that is truly venomous, namelyMeiacanthus. These fish can inject venom from their mandibular, hollow fangs.[8] They have venom that contains the opioid-likeenkephalin,phospholipase, andneuropeptide Y.[9]
True blennies are widely distributed in coastal waters, often abundant and easily observed which has made them the subject for many studies ofecology and behaviour. Two of the families, the Blennidae and the Tripterygiidae have global distributions, the Clinidae have a mainlytemperate distribution and the remaining three families are largelyNeotropical. This distribution makes these fish ideal subjects for studies ofbiogeography. It is thought that the splitting of theTethys Sea by the formation of theIsthmus of Panama combined withPliocene warming of the climate may have been important factors influencing the evolution and biogeography of the Blenniiformes.[10]
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