Home · Blenniidae · Tailspot blenny
Tailspot blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura) — Blenniidae

Tailspot blenny

Ecsenius stigmatura
Family: Blenniidae

The Tailspot blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura) is a saltwater fish of the family Blenniidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
6 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–30.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Tailspot blenny is a small combtooth blenny (Blenniidae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 6 cm and has an elongate, scaleless body with a blunt head. It bears longitudinal stripes and a conspicuous dark spot on the tail base. 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 Tailspot blenny?

The Tailspot blenny has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Tailspot blenny live?

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

How big does the Tailspot blenny get?

The Tailspot blenny grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Tailspot blenny dangerous to humans?

No, the Tailspot blenny is harmless to humans.

Is the Tailspot blenny edible?

Yes, the Tailspot blenny is commonly eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Staartvlek-slijmvis sourced
English name
Tailspot blenny sourced
Scientific name
Ecsenius stigmatura
Family
Blenniidae
Other names
Tailspot coralblenny verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 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

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →