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Shirley's coralblenny (Ecsenius shirleyae) — Blenniidae

Shirley's coralblenny

Ecsenius shirleyae
Family: Blenniidae

The Shirley's coralblenny (Ecsenius shirleyae) is a saltwater fish of the family Blenniidae that grows up to 3 cm.

Length
2.8 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–12.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Shirley's coralblenny is a small combtooth blenny (Blenniidae) from reef water of the western Pacific. The species grows to about 5 cm and has a slender, stocky body with a blunt, round head, high-set eyes and often fine stripes or spots. As a bottom-dweller it shelters in empty worm tubes, coral crevices and small holes, often projecting only its head, and rasps algae and biofilm with comb-like teeth. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Shirley's coralblenny?

The Shirley's coralblenny has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Shirley's coralblenny live?

The Shirley's coralblenny lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Shirley's coralblenny get?

The Shirley's coralblenny grows to a maximum of about 3 cm.

Is the Shirley's coralblenny dangerous to humans?

No, the Shirley's coralblenny is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Shirleys koraalslijmvis sourced
English name
Shirley's coralblenny sourced
Scientific name
Ecsenius shirleyae
Family
Blenniidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
2.8 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
12.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Ecsenius

More from the family Blenniidae

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