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Tailspot blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura) — Blenniidae

Tailspot blenny

Ecsenius stigmatura
Family: Blenniidae

The Tailspot blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura) is a saltwater fish of the family Blenniidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
6 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–30.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Indonesia, Philippines
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Tailspot blenny is a small combtooth blenny (Blenniidae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 6 cm and has an elongate, scaleless body with a blunt head. It bears longitudinal stripes and a conspicuous dark spot on the tail base. 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 Tailspot blenny?

The Tailspot blenny has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Tailspot blenny live?

The Tailspot blenny lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Indonesia, Philippines

How big does the Tailspot blenny get?

The Tailspot blenny grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Tailspot blenny dangerous to humans?

No, the Tailspot 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 Tailspot blenny edible?

Yes, the Tailspot blenny is commonly eaten.

More photos

Tailspot blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura) — Blenniidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Tailspot blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura) — Blenniidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY 2.0)
Tailspot blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura) — Blenniidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY 2.0)
Tailspot blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura) — Blenniidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) sisi_ze, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Tailspot blenny sourced
Scientific name
Ecsenius stigmatura
Family
Blenniidae
Other names
Tailspot coralblenny; Tail-spot combtooth-blenny verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown 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)
30.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Indonesia, Philippines 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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