Ophioblennius atlanticus
No common name
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Blenniidae (Combtooth Blennies)
Ophioblennius
Ophioblennius atlanticus
Description
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Characters
Body shape: fusiform / normal. Head profile in front of eyes vertical; forehead projects in front of snout. Head, body and anal fin dark reddish brown, sometimes pale pinkish gray; lips and parts of pectoral and tail fins red (Ref. 26938). Larvae have terminal mouths and fang-like teeth for planktonic feeding; adults with comb teeth and ventrally located mouth for benthic feeding. Adult males with fleshy rugosities on anal-fin spines that secrete antimicrobial mucus (Ref. 94105).
Distribution
Atlantic Ocean: oceanic islands and along the coast of west Africa from Senegal to Angola.
Habitat Associations
Marine. reef-associated. Found in: coral reefs.
Biology
Adults are restricted to shallow waters and dwell among rocks and coral reefs (Ref. 5298), where there is considerable wave action (Ref. 26938). They bite very severely, with their two very long and sharp canine teeth (Ref. 3157). Are grazers feeding on filamentous algae (Ref. 13442) and detritus. Larvae feed on plankton; during larval metamorphosis to adult stage, there is no feeding and rely on lipids stored in the liver (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). Ophioblennius larvae are frequently taken in deep water column (Ref. 5298). Adult males with fleshy rugosities on anal-fin spines that secrete antimicrobial mucus applied to eggs being guarded (Ref. 94102).
Max length: 19.0 cm TL.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; guarders (nesters); parental care: paternal. Oviparous, distinct pairing (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2011-03-22. Resilience: Medium (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial.
References
Randall, J.E. (1967) Food habits of reef fishes of the West Indies. Stud. Trop. Oceanogr. Miami 5:665-847.
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Jenyns, L. (1842) Fish. In C. Darwin (ed.) The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, under the command of Captain Fitzroy, R.N., during the years 1832-1836. Smith, Elder & Co., London (in 4 parts): p. 1-32 (Jan. 1840); 33-64 (Jun. 1840); 65-96 (Apr. 1841); 97-172 (Apr. 1842).
Bath, H. (1990) Blenniidae. p. 905-915. In J.C. Quero, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post and L. Saldanha (eds.) Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT, Lisbon; SEI, Paris; and UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 2.
Randall, J.E. (1996) Caribbean reef fishes. Third Edition - revised and enlarged. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Ltd., Hong Kong. 3nd ed. 368 p.
Smith, C.L. (1997) National Audubon Society field guide to tropical marine fishes of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York. 720 p.
Reiner, F. (1996) Catálogo dos peixes do arquipélago de Cabo Verde. Publ. Avuls. Inst. Port. Invest. Mar. 2:339 p.
Williams, J.T. (2002) Blenniidae. Combtooth blennies. p. 1768-1772. In K.E. Carpenter (ed.) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Vol. 3: Bony fishes part 2 (Opistognathidae to Molidae), sea turtles and marine mammals.
Lubbock, R. (1980) The shore fishes of Ascension Island. J. Fish Biol. 17(3):283-303. DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1980.tb02762.x
Hastings, P.A. and V.G. Springer (2009) Systematics of the Blenniidae (Combtooth Blennies). pp. 69-91. In Patzner, R.A., E.J. Gonçalves, P.A. Hastings and B.G. Kapoor (eds.) The biology of blennies. Enfield, NH : Science Publishers, 482 p.
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