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Tiger blenny (Ecsenius tigris) — Blenniidae

Tiger blenny

Ecsenius tigris
Family: Blenniidae

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

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

Description

The Tiger blenny is a combtooth blenny (Blenniidae) from shallow reef and rocky water around Australia and the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 7 cm and has an elongate, scaleless body with a blunt head, high-set eyes and often small skin fringes above them. As a bottom-dweller it shelters in crevices, empty shells and small holes and grazes on algae and small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Tiger blenny?

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

Where does the Tiger blenny live?

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

How big does the Tiger blenny get?

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

Is the Tiger blenny dangerous to humans?

No, the Tiger blenny is harmless to humans.

Is the Tiger blenny edible?

Yes, the Tiger blenny is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Tijger-slijmvis sourced
English name
Tiger blenny sourced
Scientific name
Ecsenius tigris
Family
Blenniidae
Other names
Tiger combtooth blenny verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.0 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
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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