Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Superclassis/Classis: Actinopterygii
Classis/Subclassis: Actinopteri
Subclassis/Infraclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Megacohors: Osteoglossocephalai
Supercohors: Clupeocephala
Cohors: Euteleosteomorpha
Subcohors: Neoteleostei
Infracohors: Eurypterygia
Sectio: Ctenosquamata
Subsectio: Acanthomorphata
Divisio/Superordo: Acanthopterygii
Subdivisio: Percomorphaceae
Series: Ovalentaria
Superordo: Blenniimorphae
Ordo: Blenniiformes
Subordo: Blennioidei
Familia: Blenniidae
Genera (58):
Adelotremus – Aidablennius – Alloblennius – Alticus – Andamia – Antennablennius – Aspidontus – Atrosalarias – Bathyblennius – Blenniella – Blennius – Chalaroderma – Chasmodes – Cirripectes – Cirrisalarias – Coryphoblennius – Crossosalarias – Dodekablennos – Ecsenius – Enchelyurus – Entomacrodus – Exallias – Glyptoparus – Haptogenys – Hirculops – Hypleurochilus – Hypsoblennius – Istiblennius – Laiphognathus – Lipophrys – Litobranchus – Lupinoblennius – Meiacanthus – Microlipophrys – Mimoblennius – Nannosalarias – Oman – Omobranchus – Omox – Ophioblennius – Parablennius – Parahypsos – Paralipophrys – Paralticus – Parenchelyurus – Pereulixia – Petroscirtes – Phenablennius – Plagiotremus – Praealticus – Rhabdoblennius – Salaria – Salarias – Scartella – Scartichthys – Spaniblennius – Stanulus – Xiphasia
Name
Blenniidae Rafinesque, 1810
References
Primary references
Rafinesque, C.S. 1810: Caratteri di alcuni nuovi generi e nuove specie di animali e piante della Sicilia, con varie osservazioni sopra i medisimi. Sanfilippo, Palermo. (Part 1 involves fishes, pp. [i-iv] 3-69 [70 blank], Part 2 with slightly different title, pp. ia-iva + 71-105 [106 blank]). Pls. 1-20. [Information from Catalog of Fishes]
Additional references
Bath, H., 1965: Hypleurochilus phrynus n. sp. Erstmaliger Nachweis der Gattung Hypleurochilus Gill im Mittelmeer. Senckenbergiana Biologica 46 (4): 251–255.
Bath, H., 1966: Blennius arboreus n. sp., ein neuer Schleimfisch aus dem Mittelmeer (Pisces, Blennioidea, Blenniidae). Senckenbergiana Biologica 47 (3): 211–216.
Bath, H., 1968: Untersuchung von Blennius zvonimiri Kolombatovic und Beschreibung von Blennius incognitus n. sp. aus dem Mittelmeer (Pisces, Blennioidea, Blenniidae). Senckenbergiana Biologica 49 (5): 367–386.
Bath, H., 1992: Zwei neue Arten der Gattung Salarias Cuvier 1817 (Pisces: Blenniidae). Senckenbergiana Biologica 72 (1/3): 35–44.
Bath, H., 1992: Zwei neue Arten der Gattung Salarias Cuvier 1817 von den Philippinen und von Westaustralien (Pisces: Blenniidae). Senckenbergiana Biologica 72 (4/6): 225–236.
Bath, H. & J.B. Hutchins, 1986: Die Blenniini des australischen Raums und Neuseelands mit Beschreibung einer neuen Art und einer neuen Unterart (Pisces: Blenniidae). Senckenbergiana Biologica 66 (4/6): 167–213.
Bath, H. & R.A. Patzner, 1991: Beitrag zur Blenniiden-Fauna der Insel Bali. Senckenbergiana Biologica 71 (1/3): 35–57.
Bath, H. & J.E. Randall, 1991: Synopsis der Gattung Salarias Cuvier 1817 mit Beschreibung einer neuen Art (Pisces: Blenniidae). Senckenbergiana Biologica 71 (4/6): 245–258.
Bath, H. & P. Wirtz, 1989: Spaniblennius clandestinus n. g., n. sp. der Tribus Blenniini van W-Afrika und ihre Beziehungen zur Gattung Blennius Linnaeus 1758 (Pisces: Blenniidae). Senckenbergiana Biologica 69 (4/6): 277–291.
Hundt, P. J., Iglésias, S. P., Hoey, A. S. & Simons, A. M. 2014 [epub 2013]. A multilocus molecular phylogeny of combtooth blennies (Percomorpha: Blennioidei: Blenniidae): Multiple invasions of intertidal habitats. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 70: 47–56. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2013.09.001 Paywall.Reference page.
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. Preview
Springer, V.G., 1968: Osteology and classification of the fishes of the family Blenniidae. United States National Museum Bulletin 284: 1–85. Plates: 1–11.
Wainwright, P.C., Smith, W.L., Price, S.A., Tang, K.L., Ferry, L.A., Sparks, J.S. & Near, T.J. 2012. The evolution of pharyngognathy: a phylogenetic and functional appraisal of the pharyngeal jaw key innovation in labroid fishes and beyond. Systematic biology 61(6): 1001–1027. (PDF) DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/sys060 Reference page.
Links
Blenniidae and its species in FishBase,
Froese, R. & Pauly, D. (eds.) 2024. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication, www.fishbase.org, version 02/2024.
Genera of Blenniidae (including synonyms) in Catalog of Fishes, Eschmeyer, W.N., Fricke, R. & van der Laan, R. (eds.) 2024. Catalog of Fishes electronic version.
Vernacular names
Afrikaans: Blennies
čeština: Slizounovití
Deutsch: Schleimfische
English: Combtooth blennies
suomi: Luikerot
français: Blennies à dents de peignes
hrvatski: Slingurke
magyar: Nyálkáshalfélék
italiano: Bavose
lietuvių: Jūros šuniukai
Nederlands: Naakte slijmvissen
norsk: Tangkvabber
polski: Ślizgowate
русский: Собачковые
ไทย: ปลาตุ๊ดตู่, ปลาตั๊กแตนหิน, ปลาเบลนนี่
中文: 鳚科
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.
Description
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.
Habitat and behaviour
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.
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.
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
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 & Springer, 1971
Alticus Lacepède, 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 & Springer, 1971
Dodekablennos Springer & Spreitzer, 1978
Ecsenius McCulloch, 1923
Entomacrodus Gill, 1859
Exallias Jordan & 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 & Springer, 1971
Lupinoblennius Herre, 1942
Medusablennius Springer, 1966
Microlipophrys Almada, Almada, Guillemaud & Wirtz, 2005
Mimoblennius Smith-Vaniz & Springer, 1971
Nannosalarias Smith-Vaniz & Springer, 1971
Ophioblennius Gill, 1860
Parablennius Miranda Ribeiro, 1915
Parahypsos Bath, 1982
Paralticus Springer & Williams, 1994
Pereulixia J.L.B. Smith, 1959
Praealticus Schultz & Chapman, 1960
Rhabdoblennius Whitley, 1930
Salaria Forsskål, 1775
Salarias Cuvier, 1816
Scartella Jordan, 1886
Scartichthys Jordan & Evermann, 1898
Stanulus J.L.B. Smith, 1959
Subfamily Blenniinae Rafinesque, 1810
Adelotremus Smith-Vaniz & 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 Rüppell, 1830
Phenablennius Springer & Smith-Vaniz, 1972
Plagiotremus Gill, 1865
Spaniblennius Bath & Wirtz, 1989
Xiphasia Swainson. 1839
Timeline
See also
List of fish common names
List of fish families
References
Sepkoski, 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; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Family Blenniidae". 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.
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