Midas blenny

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Midas blenny
Escenius midas (Midas blenny).jpg
In the Andaman Islands
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Blenniiformes
Family: Blenniidae
Genus: Ecsenius
Species:
E. midas
Binomial name
Ecsenius midas
Starck, 1969

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. [2]

The Midas blenny is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific area from the eastern coast of Africa, Red Sea included, to the Marquesan Islands. [2] It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. The specific name references the Phrygian king Midas who, in Greek mythology turned all he touched into gold, the type was a golden color in life although it is now known that this species is variable in color. [3]

It grows to a size of 13 cm in length. [4] [5] Its normal color is golden orange but it can adapt its color (mimicry) to match the color of the fishes it mixes with. [6] It shows a black spot near the anus. It is often seen in company of the lyretail anthias ( Pseudanthias squamipinnis ). [7]

The Midas blenny is a planktivore. [8]

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<i>Ecsenius aroni</i> Species of fish

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<i>Ecsenius pictus</i> Species of fish

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<i>Ecsenius schroederi</i> Species of fish

Ecsenius schroederi, known commonly as the Schroeder's combtooth-blenny in Indonesia, is a species of combtooth blenny in the genus Ecsenius. It is found in coral reefs in the western Pacific ocean, specifically in Indonesia. It can reach a maximum length of 7 centimetres. Blennies in this species feed primarily off of plants, including benthic algae and weeds, and are commercial aquarium fish. The species was named in honour of the wildlife artist and scientific illustrator Jack R. Schroeder (1954-2004).

Ecsenius kurti, Kurt's coralblenny, is a species of combtooth blenny in the genus Ecsenius. It is found in coral reefs in the western Pacific ocean; it is endemic to the Cuyo Islands of the Philippines. It can reach a maximum length of 3.5 centimetres. Blennies in this species feed primarily off of plants, including benthic algae and weeds. The specific name honours Kurt A. Bruwelheide, who was a museum specialist in the Division of Fishes of the National Museum of Natural History, for his work on the early part Springer's revision of the genus Ecsenius and who photographed many of the types of the species Springer described.

Ecsenius lubbocki, the Lubbock's combtooth-blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny in the genus Ecsenius. It is found in coral reefs in Phuket, Thailand, in the eastern Indian ocean. It can reach a maximum length of 4 centimetres. Blennies in this species feed primarily off of plants, including benthic algae and weeds. The specific name honours the English marine biologist Hugh Roger Lubbock (1951–1981), the collector of the type specimens, he recognised that they were a new species of Ecsenius.

Ecsenius portenoyi is a species of combtooth blenny in the genus Ecsenius. It is found in the western central Pacific ocean. It can reach a maximum length of 4.5 centimetres. Blennies in this species feed primarily off of plants, including benthic algae and weeds. Its specific name honours Norman S. Portenoy of Bethesda, Maryland for his support of the ichthyological expeditions of the National Museum of Natural History.

Ecsenius randalli is a species of combtooth blenny in the genus Ecsenius. It is found the western central Pacific ocean, around Indonesia. It can reach a maximum length of 2 centimetres. Blennies in this species feed primarily off of plants, including benthic algae and weeds. The specific name of this blenny honours the American ichthyologist John E. Randall of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, who collected the type, photographed it and permitted Victor G. Springer to describe it.

References

  1. Williams, J.T. (2014). "Ecsenius midas". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T48342333A48354285. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T48342333A48354285.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2018). "Ecsenius midas" in FishBase . October 2018 version.
  3. Christopher Scharpf; Kenneth J. Lazara (26 October 2018). "Order BLENNIIFORMES: Family BLENNIIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  4. Tristan Lougher (2006). What Fish?: A Buyer's Guide to Marine Fish. Interpet Publishing. p. 159. ISBN   978-1-84286-118-9.
  5. Lieske & Myers,Coral reef fishes,Princeton University Press, 2009, ISBN   9780691089959
  6. Kuiter, R.H. and T. Tonozuka, 2001. Pictorial guide to Indonesian reef fishes. Part 2. Fusiliers - Dragonets, Caesionidae - Callionymidae. Zoonetics, Australia. 304-622 p.
  7. Lieske & Myers,Guide des poissons des récifs coralliens,Delachaux & Niestlé,2009, ISBN   9782603016749
  8. Myers, R.F., 1999. Micronesian reef fishes: a comprehensive guide to the coral reef fishes of Micronesia, 3rd revised and expanded edition. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 330 p.