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Pictus blenny (Ecsenius pictus) — Blenniidae

Pictus blenny

Ecsenius pictus
Family: Blenniidae

The Pictus blenny (Ecsenius pictus) is a saltwater fish of the family Blenniidae that grows up to 5 cm.

Length
5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–40.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The pictus blenny is a small, scaleless blenny (Blenniidae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 5 cm and has a slender body with a blue-white ground, fine black dotted lines and yellow accents. As a bottom-dweller it shelters in empty worm tubes and crevices of coral reefs, with only the head showing, and rasps algae and growth or snaps small zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans and appears in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pictus blenny?

The Pictus blenny has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly blue and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Pictus blenny live?

The Pictus blenny lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Pictus blenny get?

The Pictus blenny grows to a maximum of about 5 cm.

Is the Pictus blenny dangerous to humans?

No, the Pictus blenny is harmless to humans.

Is the Pictus blenny edible?

Yes, the Pictus blenny is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Geschilderde tandslijmvis sourced
English name
Pictus blenny sourced
Scientific name
Ecsenius pictus
Family
Blenniidae
Other names
Pictus coralblenny; White-lined comb-tooth; White-lined combtooth-blenny verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
40.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless 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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