Eastern jumping blenny
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Blenniiformes
Family: Tripterygiidae
Genus: Lepidoblennius
Species:
L. haplodactylus
Binomial name
Lepidoblennius haplodactylus

The eastern jumping blenny (Lepidoblennius haplodactylus) is a species of triplefin blenny in the genus Lepidoblennius.[2] It was described by Franz Steindachner in 1867 and is the type species of the genus Lepidoblennius.[3]

Description

The eastern jumping blenny has a body which is slightly compressed and a head which has no scales and has a steep upper jaw.[4] It is greyish to greenish yellow on its upperparts, becoming paler towards the belly. There are normally five dark saddle-like markings along its back while the flanks are marked with small irregular pearly spots and dark blotches or vertical streaks. There is a brown band which runs from the eye to the upper jaw.[5] The maximum recorded standard length is 10.7 centimetres (4.2 in).[2] It can be identified from the allopatric western jumping blenny by having a broad membrane separating the third and fourth spine in the dorsal fin.[4]

Distribution

The eastern jumping blenny is endemic to the eastern coast of Australia.[1] It is found from Rockhampton, Queensland to Western Port, Victoria.[5]

Habitat and biology

The eastern jumping blenny is found on shallow reefs where there are exposed rocks covered in algae, it is common in the intertidal zone and it is frequently observed at low tide on the water's edge when it can be seen to hop over damp, rocky surfaces.[5] It is found at depths of 0 to 3 metres (0.0 to 9.8 ft).[2]

Etymology and taxonomy

The genus name Lepidoblennius means "scaled blenny" while the specific name is a compound of haplo meaning "single" and dactylus meaning "finger", a reference to the unbranched spines and rays of its pectoral, anal and caudal fins.[6] It was described by the Austrian ichthyologist Franz Steindachner in 1867 and the type locality is the Fitzroy River at Rockhampton Queensland.[3] It is the type species of its genus.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 Williams, J.; Holleman, W. (2014). "Lepidoblennius haplodactylus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T179055A1564379. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T179055A1564379.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Lepidoblennius haplodactylus" in FishBase. April 2019 version.
  3. 1 2 Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Lepidoblennius haplodactylus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Eastern Jumping Blenny, Lepidoblennius haplodactylus Steindachner, 1867". Museums Australia. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 Dianne J. Bray. "Lepidoblennius haplodactylus". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  6. ↑ Christopher Scharpf; Kenneth J. Lazara (29 January 2019). "Order Blenniiformes: Families Tripterygiidae and Dactyloscopidae". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  7. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Lepidoblennius". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
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