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Black combtooth blenny (Ecsenius namiyei) — Blenniidae

Black combtooth blenny

Ecsenius namiyei
Family: Blenniidae

The Black combtooth blenny (Ecsenius namiyei) is a saltwater fish of the family Blenniidae that grows up to 11 cm.

Length
11 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1–30 m
Diet
Omnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Papua New Guinea and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Black combtooth blenny is a small combtooth blenny (Blenniidae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 11 cm and has an elongate, scaleless body with a blunt head. The body is dark-brown to black with a paler tail region. 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 Black combtooth blenny?

The Black combtooth blenny has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly black.

Where does the Black combtooth blenny live?

The Black combtooth blenny lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Papua New Guinea and others

How big does the Black combtooth blenny get?

The Black combtooth blenny grows to a maximum of about 11 cm.

Is the Black combtooth blenny dangerous to humans?

No, the Black combtooth 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 Black combtooth blenny edible?

Yes, the Black combtooth blenny is commonly eaten.

More photos

Black combtooth blenny (Ecsenius namiyei) — Blenniidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Gomen See, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Black combtooth blenny (Ecsenius namiyei) — Blenniidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) 呂一起(Lyu yi-chi), some rights reserved (CC BY))
Black combtooth blenny (Ecsenius namiyei) — Blenniidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Izuzuki (CC BY-SA 2.5)
Black combtooth blenny (Ecsenius namiyei) — Blenniidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Franco Colnago, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

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All data

Identification

English name
Black combtooth blenny sourced
Scientific name
Ecsenius namiyei
Family
Blenniidae
Other names
Black comb-tooth; Black combtooth-blenny; Namiye's blenny; Namiye's combtooth blenny; Namiye's coralblenny verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
11 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Black sourced
Tail shape
Rounded

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1 verified
Max depth (m)
30 verified
Natural range
Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Papua New Guinea and others sourced
Origin
Native

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus
Territorial
Yes
Reproduction
Separate sexes
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten
Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish.
Regulations source

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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