Eel Snake Blenny, Peronedys anguillaris Steindachner 1883

Other Names: Eel Blenny, Eel Codlet, Eelblenny, Gunnel, Shanny, Snake Blenny

Summary:

A rare snake blenny with a broad dark stripe along the back, tan to pale yellowish-grey sides, dark dorsal and anal fins, and fine dark-edged stripes and lines on the head and body. The Eel Snake Blenny has a long, slender, compressed body, very long-based dorsal and anal fins, minute pectoral fins and tiny pelvic fins. The head, eye and mouth are very small, and the body is covered in tiny cycloid scales.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2020, Peronedys anguillaris in Fishes of Australia, accessed 23 Apr 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1109

Eel Snake Blenny, Peronedys anguillaris Steindachner 1883

More Info

Distribution	Endemic to South Australia and Western Australia, from Victor Harbor and Kangaroo Island (South Australia) to the Recherche Archipelago (Western Australia). Inhabits quiet bays and estuaries, sheltering in dense seagrass beds, and decaying detritus, at depths to 13 m.
Features	Dorsal fin lXXVI lXXXIV, 2-4; Anal fin II, 55-62; Pectoral fin 3-4 (minute); Pelvic fin I, 2 (tiny); Caudal fin 13; Lateral-line pores 9-15; Vertebrae 31-35 + 57-63 = 89-96. Body very long and slender, eel-like (depth 7-8% SL); head length 16% SL; eye diameter 14-15% HL; upper jaw to slightly beyond hind edge of eye (30-31% HL); pectoral fins vestigial, non-apparent; pelvic fins tiny, shorter than eye diameter; pectoral- and pelvic-fin lengths less than eye diameter.
Size	To 13 cm TL.
Colour	Pale tan to whitish with a broad dark brown mid-dorsal stripe from tip of snout to tail tip; anal-fin base with a narrower brown stripe to tail tip; head and body with irregular fine brown lines from rear edge of eye; dorsal fin dark brown; anal fin yellowish anteriorly, brownish posteriorly; caudal fin brown above and below, wit ha white medial stripe.
Feeding	Likely to feed on small benthic invertebrates.
Biology	The species is viviparous - with internal fertilisation and birth of live young.
Fisheries	Of no interest to fisheries.
Etymology	The specific name anguillaris is from the Latin anguilla (= an eel)in reference to the eel-like body of this species.
Species Citation	Peronedys anguillaris Steindachner 1883, Anzeiger der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien 20(22): 197. Type locality: St. Vincent Gulf, South Australia.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2020
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Eel Snake Blenny, Peronedys anguillaris Steindachner 1883

References

George, A. & Springer, V.G. 1980. Revision of the clinid fish tribe Ophiclinini, including five new species, and definition of the family Clinidae. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 307: 1-31 figs 1-14. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00810282.307

Herzenstein, S.M. 1896. Ueber einige neue und seltene Fische des Zoologischen Museums der Kaiserlichen Akadamie der Wissenschaften. Annuaire du Musée Zoologique de l'Académie Impériale des Sciences. St. Petersbourg 1: 1-14 (described as Neogunnelus microchirus).

Hoese, D.F. 2006. Clinidae. In: Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) 2006. Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3 2178 pp.

Hoese, D.F., Gomon, M.F. & Rennis, D.S. 2008. Family Clinidae. pp. 696-722 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Hutchins, J.B. 2005. Checklist of marine fishes of Recherche Archipelago and adjacent mainland waters. pp. 425-449 in Wells, F.E., Walker, D.I. & Kendrick, G.A. (eds) Proceedings of the Twelfth International Marine Biological Workshop: The Marine Flora and Fauna of Esperance, Western Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum.

Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp.

Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. A comprehensive reference for divers and fishermen. Sydney, NSW, Australia : New Holland Publishers xvii, 434 pp.

Kuiter, R. & Kuiter, S. 2018. Coastal sea-fishes of south-eastern Australia. Seaford, Victoria : Aquatic Photographics, 371 pp.

McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part III. Records of the Australian Museum 5: 329–436 (as Peronedys anguillaris and Scleropteryx devisi)

McCulloch, A.R. & Waite, E.R. 1918. Some new and little-known fishes from South Australia. Records of the South Australian Museum 1(1): 39-78, figures 26-31, plates 2-7. See ref at BHL

Neira, F.J., Miskiewicz, A.G. & Trnski, T. 1998. Larvae of temperate Australian fishes: laboratory guide for larval fish identification. Nedlands, Western Australia : University of Western Australia press 474 pp.

Ogilby, J.D. 1894. Description of five new fishes from the Australasian region. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 2 9(2): 367-374 (described as Ophioclinus devisi). See ref at BHL

Ogilby, J.D. 1898. New genera and species of fishes. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 23(3): 280-299 (described as Eucentronotus zietzi) See ref at BHL

Rennis, D., Hoese, D.F. & Gomon, M.F. 1994. Family Clinidae (pp. 741-775, figs 650-684) in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H (eds) The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs.

Steindachner, F. 1883. Ichthyologische Beiträge (XIII). Anzeiger der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien 20(22): 194-197.

Steindachner, F. 1884. Ichthyologische Beiträge (13)1. Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Fische Australiens. Sitzungsberichte der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien. Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Klasse 88(1): 1065-1108 figs 1-8

Williams, J.T., Holleman, W. & Clements, K.D. 2014. Peronedys anguillaris. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T179067A1565911. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T179067A1565911.en. Downloaded on 24 November 2016.