Red Sea Mimic Blenny is a fish with the scientific name Ecsenius gravieri.
It lives in the Western Indian Ocean and sometimes appears in the aquarium trade.
The name “Ecsenius gravieri” was given in honor of Charles Gravier, a French zoologist who collected the first specimen.
Red Sea mimic blenny imitates another fish called Meiacanthus nigrolineatus. It’s unknown if this fish is safe for coral reefs.
Red Sea Mimic Blenny Interesting Facts
- Red Sea mimic blenny grows up to 3.1 inches (8.0 centimeters) long and is found in the Western Indian Ocean, near coral reefs.
- Named after French zoologist Charles Gravier, it imitates another fish called Meiacanthus nigrolineatus.
- This fish lays adhesive eggs on underwater surfaces, with larvae usually floating near coastlines.
- Red Sea mimic blenny forms distinct pairs for breeding but its impact on coral reefs remains unknown.
Red Sea Mimic Blenny Habitat
Red Sea mimic blenny is a tropical fish found in the Western Indian Ocean, specifically from the Red Sea to the western part of the Gulf of Aden.
It lives near coral reefs and has the scientific name Ecsenius gravieri.
| Water Temperature: | Unknown |
| Water pH: | Unknown |
| Water Hardness: | Unknown |
Red Sea Mimic Blenny Physical Characteristics
Size: 3.1 inches (8.0 centimeters)
Red Sea mimic blenny has a maximum length of 3.1 inches (8.0 centimeters).
It has 12 to 14 dorsal spines, 16 to 19 dorsal soft rays, 2 anal spines, and 18 to 21 anal soft rays. The fish also has 35 to 37 vertebrae.
Its dorsal fin is usually composed of 13 spines, and a moderate notch separates the spinous and segmented-ray portions.
The anal fin has two spines and typically contains 18 to 21 soft rays. The pectoral fin usually consists of about 14 rays (can be between 13 to 15).
There are also around 13 segmented caudal-fin rays. In terms of teeth, there are about 44 to 54 incisor-like dentary teeth in the front, including canine teeth that look like incisors.
On each side, there are either no posterior dentary canines or just one.
Instead of lateral line pairs with pores, this species has a lateral line ending at a point between the verticals from the eighth to eleventh dorsal-fin spine.
A cirrus is present on the posterior rim of its anterior nostril but not on its anterior rim.
Two color patterns exist for this species, namely, pale (northern) and dark (southern).
Red Sea Mimic Blenny Reproduction
Red Sea mimic blenny is oviparous by nature. It forms distinct pairs for breeding.
This fish lays eggs that stick to surfaces underwater using an adhesive pad or pedestal.
The babies, called larvae, are usually found floating near coastlines.
Red Sea Mimic Blenny Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Blenniiformes |
| Family: | Blenniidae |
| Genus: | Ecsenius |
| Scientific Name: | Ecsenius gravieri |
| Also Known As: | Red Sea Mimic Blenny |
| Conservation Status: | Least Concern |