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Leopard blenny (Exallias brevis) — Blenniidae

Leopard blenny

Exallias brevis
Family: Blenniidae
LC · Least Concern

The Leopard blenny (Exallias brevis) is a saltwater fish of the family Blenniidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
14.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–20.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-Pacific
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The leopard blenny is a blenny from the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii and Panama. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a stocky body densely covered with dark spots on a pale ground, like a leopard's coat; breeding males turn partly reddish. It lives on clear coral reefs and feeds on coral polyps. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Leopard blenny?

The Leopard blenny has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly white and shows a spots pattern. Leopard-like spotted pattern; eats coral polyps

Where does the Leopard blenny live?

The Leopard blenny lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-Pacific

How big does the Leopard blenny get?

The Leopard blenny grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Leopard blenny dangerous to humans?

No, the Leopard blenny is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Leopard blenny edible?

The Leopard blenny is not usually eaten.

More photos

Leopard blenny (Exallias brevis) — Blenniidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Hiroya Kidoguchi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Leopard blenny (Exallias brevis) — Blenniidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Cricket Raspet, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Leopard blenny (Exallias brevis) — Blenniidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) David R, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Leopard blenny (Exallias brevis) — Blenniidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Marine Explorer (Dr John Turnbull), some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Leopard blenny verified
Scientific name
Exallias brevis
Family
Blenniidae
Other names
Leopard blenny; Shortbodied blenny; Leopard rock skipper; Leopard rockskipper; Pink-spotted blenny; Spotted coral blenny verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
14.5 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
White inferred
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
20.0 verified
Natural range
Indo-Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Coral polyps sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes sourced
Seasonality
Coral-eating reef blenny; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Leopard-like spotted pattern; eats coral polyps sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

More from the family Blenniidae

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