Combtooth blenny

Combtooth blenny
Combtooth blennies are blenniiformids; percomorph marine fish of the family Blenniidae, part of the order Blenniiformes. They are the largest family of blennies with around 401 known species in 58 genera. Combtooth blennies are found in tropical and subtropical waters in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans; some species are also found in brackish and even freshwater environments.
Description
The body plan of the combtooth blennies is archetypal to all other blennioids; their blunt heads and eyes are large, with large continuous dorsal fins (which may have three to 17 spines). Their bodies are compressed, elongated, and scaleless; their small, slender pelvic fins (which are absent in only two species) are situated before their enlarged pectoral fins, and their tail fins are rounded. As their name would suggest, combtooth blennies are noted for the comb-like teeth lining their jaws.
By far the largest species is the eel-like hairtail blenny at 53 cm in length; most other members of the family are much smaller. Combtooth blennies are active and often highly colourful, making them popular in the aquarium hobby.
Habitat and behaviour
Generally benthic fish, combtooth blennies spend much of their time on or near the bottom. They may inhabit the rocky crevices of reefs, burrows in sandy or muddy substrates, or even empty shells. Generally found in shallow waters, some combtooth blennies are capable of leaving the water for short periods during low tide, aided by their large pectoral fins which act as "feet". Small benthic crustaceans, mollusks, and other sessile invertebrates are the primary food items for most species; others eat algae or plankton.
One exceptional group of combtooth blennies deserves special mention: the so-called sabre-toothed blennies of the genera Aspidontus, Meiacanthus, Petroscirtes, Plagiotremus, and Xiphasia. These blennies have fang-like teeth with venom glands at their bases. Species of the genera Aspidontus and Plagiotremus (such as the false cleanerfish) are noted for their cunning mimicry of cleaner wrasses: by imitating the latter's colour, form, and behaviour, the blennies are able to trick other fish (or even divers) into letting down their guard, long enough for the blennies to nip a quick mouthful of skin or scale.
Some combtooth blennies form small groups, while others are solitary and territorial. They may be either diurnal or nocturnal, depending on the species. Females lay eggs in shells or under rock ledges; males guard the nest of eggs until hatching.
In some species, the eggs may remain in the oviduct of the female until hatched. The fry of some species undergo an 'ophioblennius' stage, wherein the fish are pelagic (i.e., inhabiting the midwater) and have greatly enlarged pectoral fins and hooked teeth.
Classification
This family is currently divided into two subfamilies and approximately 58 genera and 397 species.
The following genera are classified within the family Blenniidae:
Subfamily Salarinae Gill, 1859
Aidablennius Whitley, 1947
Alloblennius Smith-Vaniz & Springer, 1971
Alticus Lacepède, 1800
Andamia Blyth, 1858
Antennablennius Fowler, 1931
Atrosalarias Whitley 1933
Bathyblennius Bath, 1977
Blenniella Reid, 1943
Chalaroderma Norman, 1944
Chasmodes Valenciennes, 1836
Cirripectes Swainson, 1839
Cirrisalarias Springer, 1976
Coryphoblennius Norman, 1944
Crossosalarias Smith-Vaniz & Springer, 1971
Dodekablennos Springer & Spreitzer, 1978
Ecsenius McCulloch, 1923
Entomacrodus Gill, 1859
Exallias Jordan & Evermann, 1905
Glyptoparus J.L.B. Smith, 1959
Hirculops J.L.B. Smith, 1959
Hypleurochilus Gill, 1861
Hypsoblennius Gill, 1861
Istiblennius Whitley, 1943
Lipophrys Gill, 1896
Litobranchus Smith-Vaniz & Springer, 1971
Lupinoblennius Herre, 1942
Medusablennius Springer, 1966
Microlipophrys Almada, Almada, Guillemaud & Wirtz, 2005
Mimoblennius Smith-Vaniz & Springer, 1971
Nannosalarias Smith-Vaniz & Springer, 1971
Ophioblennius Gill, 1860
Parablennius Miranda Ribeiro, 1915
Parahypsos Bath, 1982
Paralticus Springer & Williams, 1994
Pereulixia J.L.B. Smith, 1959
Praealticus Schultz & Chapman, 1960
Rhabdoblennius Whitley, 1930
Salaria Forsskål, 1775
Salarias Cuvier, 1816
Scartella Jordan, 1886
Scartichthys Jordan & Evermann, 1898
Stanulus J.L.B. Smith, 1959
Subfamily Blenniinae Rafinesque, 1810
Adelotremus Smith-Vaniz & Rose, 2012
Aspidontus Cuvier, 1834
Blennius Linnaeus, 1758
Enchelyurus Peters, 1868
Haptogenys Springer, 1972
Laiphognathus J.L.B. Smith, 1955
Meiacanthus Norman, 1944
Oman Springer, 1985
Omobranchus Valenciennes, 1836
Omox Springer, 1972
Parenchelyurus Springer, 1972
Petroscirtes Rüppell, 1830
Phenablennius Springer & Smith-Vaniz, 1972
Plagiotremus Gill, 1865
Spaniblennius Bath & Wirtz, 1989
Xiphasia'' Swainson. 1839
Timeline
See also
List of fish common names
List of fish families
References
Blenniiformes
Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque
Articles which contain graphical timelines