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Family Blenniidae - Combtooth blennies
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Order |
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Class |
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Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) |
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No. of Genera in Ref |
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53 |
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No. of Species in Ref |
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420 |
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Environment |
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Fresh : Yes |
Brackish : Yes |
Marine : Yes |
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Aquarium |
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many |
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First Fossil Record |
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upper
Tertiary
upper
Miocene |
Ref.. Berg, L.S. 1958 | |
Remark |
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Distribution: Indian, Atlantic and Pacific. Chiefly tropical and subtropical marine; rare in fresh- and brackish water. Scaleless body (lateral line scales modified in few species). Premaxillae not protractile. Usually blunt head. Pelvic fins present in all but 2 species, before pectorals, with 1 short, inconspicuous spine and 2-4 segmented rays. No teeth in palatines; vomerine teeth present or absent. Teeth in jaws comblike, fixed or movable (canine teeth occasionally present). Dorsal spines 3-17, flexible; 9-119 segmented soft rays. Pectoral rays 10-18, unbranched. Caudal fin rays branched or unbranched. Anal spines 2. All with basisphenoid except in Nemophini. Swim bladder usually absent in adults, except in Phenablennius, Omox, and most Nemophini. Vertebrae often 28-44 (135 in Xiphasia). Maximum length about 54 cm; most smaller than 15 cm. Mostly bottom dwelling species feeding on a mixed diet of algae and benthic invertebrates; some are planktivores, and some are specialized to feed on skin or fins of larger fishes, with mimic as cleaner. Males attract gravid females to lay their eggs in a small hole or crevice, or underneath empty bivalve shells. The eggs are then guarded by the male or by both parents.
420 species (Ref. 76835). |
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Etymology |
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Greek, blennos = similar to mucus; also a kind of fish applied to a species of ray. blennos = mucus ( Ref. 45335). |
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Division |
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Marine |
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Reproductive guild |
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guarders |
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Typical activity level |
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normal |
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Main Ref |
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Coordinator |
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