Black Blenny, Enchelyurus ater (Günther 1877)
A Black Blenny, Enchelyurus ater, at Kingston, Norfolk Island, February 2023. Source: Susan Prior / iNaturalist.org. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial
Summary:
A dark brown to blackish comb-tooth blenny with yellow pectoral and pelvic fins. Larger males have a uniformly dark head with a reticulated pattern of dark lines, or with faint dusky mottling.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2025, Enchelyurus ater in Fishes of Australia, accessed 27 Jun 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/1906
Black Blenny, Enchelyurus ater (Günther 1877)
More Info
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Distribution |
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, and reefs in the Coral Sea, and the Lord Howe Province and Norfolk Island in the Taman Sea. Elsewhere, the species occurs from New Caledonia to the Tuamoto Archipelago, French Polynesia. Inhabits shallow coral and rocky reefs. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin VIII-X, 20-24; Anal fin II, 18-21; Pectoral fin 15-16; Pelvic fin I, 2: Caudal fin, principal rays 7+6, procurrent rays 8+8. Fewer than 50 incisiform teeth in each jaw; large canine on sides of both upper and lower jaw; head cirri absent; dorsal fin unnotched; dorsal and anal fins confluent with caudal fin. |
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Etymology |
The specific name is from the Latin ater (= black, dark) in reference to the brownish-black body with black fins |
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Species Citation |
Petroscirtes ater Günther 1877, Journal des Museum Godeffroy, Hamburg 4(13): 199. Type locality: Tahiti. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2025 |
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Resources |
Black Blenny, Enchelyurus ater (Günther 1877)
References
Allen, G.R., Hoese, D.F., Paxton, J.R., Randall, J.E., Russell, B.C., Starck, W.A., Talbot, F.H. & Whitley, G.P. 1976. Annotated checklist of the fishes of Lord Howe Island. Records of the Australian Museum 30(15): 365-454 figs 1-2
Francis, M. 1993. Checklist of the coastal fishes of Lord Howe, Norfolk, and Kermadec Islands, southwest Pacific Ocean. Pacific Science 47(2): 136-170 figs 1-2
Gill, A.C. & Reader, S.E. 1992. Fishes. pp. 90-93, 193-228 in Hutchings, P. (ed.) Reef Biology. A Survey of Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs, South Pacific. Canberra : Australian National Parks Vol. 3, Kowari 230 pp.
Günther, A. 1877. Andrew Garrett's Fische der Südsee. Heft 6. Journal des Museum Godeffroy, Hamburg 4(13): 169-216 pls 101-120 See ref at BHL
Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 557 pp. figs.
Springer, V.G. 1972. Synopsis of the tribe Omobranchini with descriptions of three new genera and two new species (Pisces : Blenniidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 130: 1-31 figs 1-16 http://dx.doi.org/10.5479/si.00810282.130
Springer, V.G. & Gomon, M.F. 1975. Revision of the blenniid fish genus Omobranchus with descriptions of three new species and notes on other species of the tribe Omobranchini. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 177: 1-135 figs 1-52 http://dx.doi.org/10.5479/si.00810282.130
Watson, W. 2001. Larvae of Enchelyurus ater (gunther, 1877) and E. kraussi (klunzinger, 1871) (pisces: Blenniidae: Omobranchini). Records of the Australian Museum 53: 57. https://doi.org/10.3853/j.0067-1975.53.2001.1324
Williams, J.T. 2014. Enchelyurus ater. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T48342160A48358955. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T48342160A48358955.en. Accessed on 01 May 2025.
