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Pictus blenny (Ecsenius pictus) — Blenniidae

Pictus blenny

Ecsenius pictus
Family: Blenniidae

The Pictus blenny (Ecsenius pictus) is a saltwater fish of the family Blenniidae that grows up to 5 cm.

Length
5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–40.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Solomon Is., Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Timor-Leste
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The pictus blenny is a small, scaleless blenny (Blenniidae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 5 cm and has a slender body with a blue-white ground, fine black dotted lines and yellow accents. As a bottom-dweller it shelters in empty worm tubes and crevices of coral reefs, with only the head showing, and rasps algae and growth or snaps small zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans and appears in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pictus blenny?

The Pictus blenny has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly blue and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Pictus blenny live?

The Pictus blenny lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Solomon Is., Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Timor-Leste

How big does the Pictus blenny get?

The Pictus blenny grows to a maximum of about 5 cm.

Is the Pictus blenny dangerous to humans?

No, the Pictus 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 Pictus blenny edible?

Yes, the Pictus blenny is commonly eaten.

More photos

Pictus blenny (Ecsenius pictus) — Blenniidae — 2
Sylvain Le Bris (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Pictus blenny (Ecsenius pictus) — Blenniidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Nhobgood Nick Hobgood (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Pictus blenny (Ecsenius pictus) — Blenniidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — q phia (CC BY 2.0)
Pictus blenny (Ecsenius pictus) — Blenniidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) craigjhowe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Pictus blenny sourced
Scientific name
Ecsenius pictus
Family
Blenniidae
Other names
Pictus coralblenny; White-lined comb-tooth; White-lined combtooth-blenny verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
40.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Solomon Is., Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Timor-Leste 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

More from the family Blenniidae

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