Combtooth blennies are blenniiformids; percomorph marine fish of the family Blenniidae, part of the orderBlenniiformes. They are the largest family of blennies with around 401 known species in 58 genera. Combtooth blennies are found in tropical and subtropical waters in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans; some species are also found in brackish and even freshwater environments.
The body plan of the combtooth blennies is archetypal to all other blennioids; their blunt heads and eyes are large, with large continuous dorsal fins (which may have three to 17 spines). Their bodies are compressed, elongated, and scaleless; their small, slender pelvic fins (which are absent in only two species) are situated before their enlarged pectoral fins, and their tail fins are rounded. As their name would suggest, combtooth blennies are noted for the comb-like teeth lining their jaws.
By far the largest species is the eel-like hairtail blenny at 53 cm in length; most other members of the family are much smaller. Combtooth blennies are active and often highly colourful, making them popular in the aquarium hobby.
Generally benthic fish, combtooth blennies spend much of their time on or near the bottom. They may inhabit the rocky crevices of reefs, burrows in sandy or muddy substrates, or even empty shells. Generally found in shallow waters, some combtooth blennies are capable of leaving the water for short periods during low tide, aided by their large pectoral fins which act as "feet". Small benthic crustaceans, mollusks, and other sessile invertebrates are the primary food items for most species; others eat algae or plankton.
One exceptional group of combtooth blennies deserves special mention: the so-called sabre-toothed blennies of the genera Aspidontus, Meiacanthus, Petroscirtes, Plagiotremus, and Xiphasia. These blennies have fang-like teeth with venom glands at their bases. Species of the genera Aspidontus and Plagiotremus (such as the false cleanerfish) are noted for their cunning mimicry of cleaner wrasses: by imitating the latter's colour, form, and behaviour, the blennies are able to trick other fish (or even divers) into letting down their guard, long enough for the blennies to nip a quick mouthful of skin or scale.
Some combtooth blennies form small groups, while others are solitary and territorial. They may be either diurnal or nocturnal, depending on the species. Females lay eggs in shells or under rock ledges; males guard the nest of eggs until hatching.
Close-up of eggs mass in the various developmental stages. The clear orange eggs are likely recently laid, while those with eyes were laid earlier
In some species, the eggs may remain in the oviduct of the female until hatched. The fry of some species undergo an 'ophioblennius' stage, wherein the fish are pelagic (i.e., inhabiting the midwater) and have greatly enlarged pectoral fins and hooked teeth.
Sepkoski, Jack (2002). . Bulletins of American Paleontology. 363: 1–560. Archived from the original on 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
^J. S. Nelson; T. C. Grande; M. V. H. Wilson (2016). (5th ed.). Wiley. p. 348. ISBN978-1-118-34233-6. Archived from the original on 2019-04-08. Retrieved 2019-02-23.
^Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2013). "Blenniidae" in FishBase. February 2013 version.
^Smith-Vaniz, W.F. & Rose, J.M. (2012): Adelotremus leptus, a new genus and species of sabertooth blenny from the Red Sea (Teleostei: Blenniidae: Nemophini). Zootaxa,3249: 39–46.
January 01, 1970
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Combtooth blennies are blenniiformids percomorph marine fish of the family Blenniidae part of the order Blenniiformes They are the largest family of blennies with around 401 known species in 58 genera Combtooth blennies are found in tropical and subtropical waters in the Atlantic Pacific and Indian Oceans some species are also found in brackish and even freshwater environments Combtooth blennies Scartella cristata Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Blenniiformes Family BlenniidaeRafinesque 1810 Subfamilies Salarinae Blenniinae Combtooth blenny Alticus anjouanae La Reunion Contents 1 Description 2 Habitat and behaviour 3 Classification 3 1 Timeline 4 See also 5 ReferencesDescription editThe body plan of the combtooth blennies is archetypal to all other blennioids their blunt heads and eyes are large with large continuous dorsal fins which may have three to 17 spines Their bodies are compressed elongated and scaleless their small slender pelvic fins which are absent in only two species are situated before their enlarged pectoral fins and their tail fins are rounded As their name would suggest combtooth blennies are noted for the comb like teeth lining their jaws By far the largest species is the eel like hairtail blenny at 53 cm in length most other members of the family are much smaller Combtooth blennies are active and often highly colourful making them popular in the aquarium hobby Habitat and behaviour edit nbsp Blue lined sabertooth blenny Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos in a rock hole Generally benthic fish combtooth blennies spend much of their time on or near the bottom They may inhabit the rocky crevices of reefs burrows in sandy or muddy substrates or even empty shells Generally found in shallow waters some combtooth blennies are capable of leaving the water for short periods during low tide aided by their large pectoral fins which act as feet Small benthic crustaceans mollusks and other sessile invertebrates are the primary food items for most species others eat algae or plankton One exceptional group of combtooth blennies deserves special mention the so called sabre toothed blennies of the genera Aspidontus Meiacanthus Petroscirtes Plagiotremus and Xiphasia These blennies have fang like teeth with venom glands at their bases Species of the genera Aspidontus and Plagiotremus such as the false cleanerfish are noted for their cunning mimicry of cleaner wrasses by imitating the latter s colour form and behaviour the blennies are able to trick other fish or even divers into letting down their guard long enough for the blennies to nip a quick mouthful of skin or scale nbsp A very protective Petroscirtes variabilis male risks his life to protect his brood Some combtooth blennies form small groups while others are solitary and territorial They may be either diurnal or nocturnal depending on the species Females lay eggs in shells or under rock ledges males guard the nest of eggs until hatching nbsp Close up of eggs mass in the various developmental stages The clear orange eggs are likely recently laid while those with eyes were laid earlier In some species the eggs may remain in the oviduct of the female until hatched The fry of some species undergo an ophioblennius stage wherein the fish are pelagic i e inhabiting the midwater and have greatly enlarged pectoral fins and hooked teeth Classification edit nbsp Toxic Meiacanthus grammistes imitates the coloration of wrasses This family is currently divided into two subfamilies and approximately 58 genera and 397 species 1 The following genera are classified within the family Blenniidae 2 3 Subfamily Salarinae Gill 1859 Aidablennius Whitley 1947 Alloblennius Smith Vaniz amp Springer 1971 Alticus Lacepede 1800 Andamia Blyth 1858 Antennablennius Fowler 1931 Atrosalarias Whitley 1933 Bathyblennius Bath 1977 Blenniella Reid 1943 Chalaroderma Norman 1944 Chasmodes Valenciennes 1836 Cirripectes Swainson 1839 Cirrisalarias Springer 1976 Coryphoblennius Norman 1944 Crossosalarias Smith Vaniz amp Springer 1971 Dodekablennos Springer amp Spreitzer 1978 Ecsenius McCulloch 1923 Entomacrodus Gill 1859 Exallias Jordan amp Evermann 1905 Glyptoparus J L B Smith 1959 Hirculops J L B Smith 1959 Hypleurochilus Gill 1861 Hypsoblennius Gill 1861 Istiblennius Whitley 1943 Lipophrys Gill 1896 Litobranchus Smith Vaniz amp Springer 1971 Lupinoblennius Herre 1942 Medusablennius Springer 1966 Microlipophrys Almada Almada Guillemaud amp Wirtz 2005 Mimoblennius Smith Vaniz amp Springer 1971 Nannosalarias Smith Vaniz amp Springer 1971 Ophioblennius Gill 1860 Parablennius Miranda Ribeiro 1915 Parahypsos Bath 1982 Paralticus Springer amp Williams 1994 Pereulixia J L B Smith 1959 Praealticus Schultz amp Chapman 1960 Rhabdoblennius Whitley 1930 Salaria Forsskal 1775 Salarias Cuvier 1816 Scartella Jordan 1886 Scartichthys Jordan amp Evermann 1898 Stanulus J L B Smith 1959 Subfamily Blenniinae Rafinesque 1810 Adelotremus Smith Vaniz amp Rose 2012 Aspidontus Cuvier 1834 Blennius Linnaeus 1758 Enchelyurus Peters 1868 Haptogenys Springer 1972 Laiphognathus J L B Smith 1955 Meiacanthus Norman 1944 Oman Springer 1985 Omobranchus Valenciennes 1836 Omox Springer 1972 Parenchelyurus Springer 1972 Petroscirtes Ruppell 1830 Phenablennius Springer amp Smith Vaniz 1972 Plagiotremus Gill 1865 Spaniblennius Bath amp Wirtz 1989 Xiphasia Swainson 1839 Timeline editSee also editList of fish common names List of fish familiesReferences editSepkoski Jack 2002 A compendium of fossil marine animal genera Bulletins of American Paleontology 363 1 560 Archived from the original on 2009 02 20 Retrieved 2011 05 19 J S Nelson T C Grande M V H Wilson 2016 Fishes of the World 5th ed Wiley p 348 ISBN 978 1 118 34233 6 Archived from the original on 2019 04 08 Retrieved 2019 02 23 Froese Rainer and Daniel Pauly eds 2013 Blenniidae in FishBase February 2013 version Smith Vaniz W F amp Rose J M 2012 Adelotremus leptus a new genus and species of sabertooth blenny from the Red Sea Teleostei Blenniidae Nemophini Zootaxa 3249 39 46 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Combtooth blenny amp oldid 1190494037, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
