Hypsoblennius ionthas
Freckled Blenny
NS
G5
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Blenniidae (Combtooth Blennies)
Hypsoblennius
Hypsoblennius ionthas (Freckled Blenny)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (Carpenter, K.E. (ed.) 2002. The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. FAO, Rome.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
It may contain errors in spelling, punctuation, or formatting.
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Characters
Body shape: elongated. Gill opening extending ventrally to opposite 5th-11th pectoral-fin ray; segmented dorsal-fin rays 13-15; segmented pelvic-fin rays 3; last dorsal-fin spine 8.5-15.5% SL; dorsal-fin spines robust and stiff; no elongate fleshy flap present posteriorly on lower lip; infraorbital bones 5; upper lip with free dorsal margin extending around snout; fleshy lobes of lower lip almost semicircular in lateral view and separated anterioventrally by a broad shield-shaped lobe; bony interorbital width comparatively narrower; dark spot usually absent in spinous dorsal fin, but if present centered on third spine; mandibular pores 3.
Distribution
North Carolina to N Florida and Cedar
Habitat Associations
Marine. demersal.
Biology
To 70 mm.
Herbivorous, with short chisel-like teeth used to scrape algae and detritus from surfaces (Ref. 94105). Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive (Ref. 205), and are attached to the substrate via a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal (Ref. 94114). Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters (Ref. 94114).
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; guarders. Oviparous, distinct pairing (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2007-10-18. Resilience: High (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: of no interest.
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray (1986) A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p.
Smith-Vaniz, W.F. (1980) Revision of Western Atlantic species of the blenniid fish genus Hypsoblennius. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 132: 285-305.
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