Combtooth blennies are blenniiformids; percomorph marine fish of the family Blenniidae, part of the order Blenniiformes. They are the largest family of blennies with around 401 known species in 58 genera. Combtooth blennies are found in tropical and subtropical waters in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans; some species are also found in brackish and even freshwater environments.
Amphibious fish are fish that are able to leave water for extended periods of time. About 11 distantly related genera of fish are considered amphibious. This suggests that many fish genera independently evolved amphibious traits, a process known as convergent evolution. These fish use a range of terrestrial locomotory modes, such as lateral undulation, tripod-like walking, and jumping. Many of these locomotory modes incorporate multiple combinations of pectoral-, pelvic-, and tail-fin movement.
Salaria is a genus of fish in the family Blenniidae. It now contains marine species which are found around the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Freshwater species were reallocated to Salariopsis in 2022. One species, the peacock blenny, has colonised the northern Red Sea through the Suez Canal, a process knowns as anti-Lesspesian migration.
Salarias fasciatus, commonly known as the jewelled blenny or lawnmower blenny is a benthic, neritic, marine fish species endemic to Australasia. Despite being known as the lawnmower blenny, due to its propensity to consume algae growth in aquaria, it is principally a detritivore, with plant material making up only about 15% of its diet. The lawnmower blenny camoflauges with its surroundings, even changing color to hide itself from predators.
Ecsenius midas, known commonly as the Midas blenny, Persian blenny, lyretail blenny or golden blenny, is a species of marine fish in the family Blenniidae.
Scartella cristata, also known by the vernacular names molly miller or molly miller blenny, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Blenniidae, the combtooth blennies. This species is found in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and northwest Pacific Oceans. Its colour is a mottled tan, white, and black covering the body and fins. The head of this fish is covered with short hair-like appendages and has two very large eyes. This species reaches 12 cm (4.7 in) in total length.
Alticus is a genus of combtooth blennies found in the Pacific and Indian oceans. It is one of 57 genera in the family Blenniidae.
Alticus anjouanae is a species of combtooth blenny in the genus Alticus. Fourmanoir originally placed this species in the genus Andamia. It is a tropical blenny known from Comoros, Seychelles, and Réunion, in the western Indian Ocean. Males can reach a maximum total length of 7.6 centimetres (2.99 inches). Blennies in this species are oviparous and form distinct pairs when mating. They feed primarily off of benthic algae and weeds.
The Pacific leaping blenny, also known as the leaping rockskipper, is a species of combtooth blenny in the genus Alticus. The blennies are oviparous, and form distinct pairs when mating. Males can reach a maximum total length of 8 centimetres. These fish feed primarily on benthic algae, which they consume by scraping off rocky surfaces.
The Kirk's blenny is a species of combtooth blenny in the genus Alticus. It was described by A. Günther in 1964, originally as a member of the genus Salarias. It is a tropical blenny which is known from the Red Sea, Mozambique, Réunion, the Persian Gulf, and India, in the Indian ocean. Kirk's blennies inhabit waters near the shore, and often spend time out of the water. They are able to breathe air when on land. They are oviparous, and form distinct pairs when mating; they also guard their eggs.
The leaping blenny, also known as the jumping blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny in the genus Alticus. There is some uncertainty as to whether it was first described by J.R. Forster in 1788 or B.G.E. Lacepède in 1800, although Fishbase currently accredits it to Forster. It was originally described as a member of the genus Blennius.
Alticus sertatus is a species of combtooth blenny found in coral reefs in the western central Pacific Ocean around the nations of Fiji and Tonga.
Montagu's blenny, also known as the capuchin blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny found in the intertidal zones of the eastern Atlantic ocean from England to Madeira and the Canary Islands as well the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. This species prefers rocky shores with much wave action. This species grows to a length of 7.6 centimetres (3.0 in) SL. It is the only species in the genus Coryphoblennius.
Ophioblennius trinitatis is a species of combtooth blenny endemic to the southwest Atlantic ocean. It is a subtropical marine fish commonly found in reefs off the coast of Brazil. Combtooth blennies are often referred to as "peixes-macacos" in Brazil, which translates to "monkey-fish".
The Portuguese blenny, also known as the red blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny found in the eastern Atlantic ocean off western Europe and Macaronesia.
Parenchelyurus hyena, the hyena blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny found in the western Pacific ocean, around Papua New Guinea.
Ecsenius collettei, known commonly as the Collete's blenny in Papua New Guinea, is a species of combtooth blenny in the genus Ecsenius. It is found in coral reefs in the western central Pacific ocean, specifically in Papua New Guinea. It can reach a maximum length of 5 centimetres. The blennies feed primarily off of plants, and benthic algae and weeds. he specific name honours Bruce B. Collette the Director of the National Marine Fisheries Service Systematics Laboratory, whose collection of fish specimens from New Guinea contained a number important blenniid specimens, one of which was this species.
Ecsenius pictus, known commonly as the white-lined comb-tooth in Indonesia and the pictus blenny in Micronesia, is a species of combtooth blenny family Blenniidae.
Acanthemblemaria hastingsi, the Cortez barnacle blenny, is a species of chaenopsid blenny found in the Gulf of California, in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Males can reach a maximum length of 5.1 cm (2.0 in) SL, while females can reach a maximum length of 4 cm (1.6 in). The specific name honours the marine biologist Philip A. Hastings of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Starksia starcki, the key blenny, is a species of labrisomid blenny native to the Caribbean Sea. It inhabits coral reefs, preferring surge channels at depths of from 6 to 19 m. This species can reach a length of 4 cm (1.6 in) TL. It is also found in the aquarium trade. The specific name honours the Walter A Starck II in recognition of his contributions to marine biology.
