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Three-lined blenny (Ecsenius trilineatus) — Blenniidae

Three-lined blenny

Ecsenius trilineatus
Family: Blenniidae

The Three-lined blenny (Ecsenius trilineatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Blenniidae that grows up to 3 cm.

Length
3 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–10.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The three-lined blenny is a small, scaleless blenny (Blenniidae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 3 cm and has a slender body with a few fine dark longitudinal lines and a blunt head with comb teeth. 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. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Three-lined blenny?

The Three-lined blenny has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Three-lined blenny live?

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

How big does the Three-lined blenny get?

The Three-lined blenny grows to a maximum of about 3 cm.

Is the Three-lined blenny dangerous to humans?

No, the Three-lined blenny is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Drielijn-tandslijmvis sourced
English name
Three-lined blenny sourced
Scientific name
Ecsenius trilineatus
Family
Blenniidae
Other names
Three-lined blenny; White-spotted comb-tooth; Whitespotted combtooth blenny; White-spotted combtooth-blenny verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
3.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes 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)
10.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

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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