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Midas blenny (Ecsenius midas) — Blenniidae

Midas blenny

Ecsenius midas
Family: Blenniidae

The Midas blenny (Ecsenius midas) is a saltwater fish of the family Blenniidae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
13 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–40.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Christmas I., Cocos Is. (Keel), Comoros, Fiji and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Midas blenny is a small combtooth blenny (Blenniidae) from the Indo-Pacific. The species grows to about 13 cm and has an elongate, scaleless body with a blunt head. It has a golden-yellow, slender body and a forked tail and swims among schools of fusiliers, which it mimics. As a bottom-dweller it perches on coral and rocky reefs, shelters in empty worm tubes and rasps algae and growth with comb-like teeth. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Midas blenny?

The Midas blenny has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly yellow-gold.

Where does the Midas blenny live?

The Midas blenny lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Christmas I., Cocos Is. (Keel), Comoros, Fiji and others

How big does the Midas blenny get?

The Midas blenny grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Midas blenny dangerous to humans?

No, the Midas 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 Midas blenny edible?

Yes, the Midas blenny is commonly eaten.

More photos

Midas blenny (Ecsenius midas) — Blenniidae — 2
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Midas blenny (Ecsenius midas) — Blenniidae — 3
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Midas blenny (Ecsenius midas) — Blenniidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Tappinen (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Midas blenny (Ecsenius midas) — Blenniidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Midas blenny sourced
Scientific name
Ecsenius midas
Family
Blenniidae
Other names
Golden blenny; Lyretail blenny; Lyre-tail comb-tooth; Lyre-tail combtooth-blenny; Midas combtooth blenny; Midas coralblenny; Persian blenny verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
13.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
40.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Christmas I., Cocos Is. (Keel), Comoros, Fiji and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
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

Same genus Ecsenius

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Fin

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