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Exallias brevis, the leopard blenny, (or Pāoʻo ʻo kauila in Hawaiian) is a species of combtooth blenny found in coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian oceans. This species can be found in the aquarium trade and is the only known member of its genus.[2][3]
Description
It's easily identifiable by its blunt head and spotted body that varies in color and pattern.[4] Males have brown spots on their head, with red spots on their body.[4] While females and juveniles have brown spots all over.[4] This species reaches a length of 14.5 centimeters (5.7 in) TL.
Diet
Leopard blennies are known to consume superficial coenosarc tissue from coral polyps.[5][6]
Distribution and Habitat
The leopard blenny is usually found in Indo-Pacific, Hawaii, Red Sea, Australia and French Polynesia, at a depth of 10-60 ft.[7] Coral reefs is where this species makes its home.[8]
References
- ^ Williams, J.T. (2014). "Exallias brevis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T48342137A48376893. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T48342137A48376893.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Exallias brevis summary page". FishBase. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
- ^ Jeffrey Williams (National Museum of Natural History) (2009-03-27). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Exallias brevis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Archived from the original on 2025-01-21.
- ^ a b c Egan, Joshua P; Buser, Thaddaeus J; Burns, Michael D; Simons, Andrew M; Hundt, Peter J (2021-01-01). "Patterns of Body Shape Diversity and Evolution in Intertidal and Subtidal Lineages of Combtooth Blennies (Blenniidae)". Integrative Organismal Biology. 3 (1): obab004. doi:10.1093/iob/obab004. ISSN 2517-4843. PMC 8077888.
- ^ Hundt, Peter; Nakamura, Yohei; Yamaoka, Kosaku (21 September 2013). "Diet of combtooth blennies (Blenniidae) in Kochiand Okinawa, Japan". The Ichthyological Society of Japan.
- ^ Carlson, Bruce (August 2011). "Feeding activity by the blenny Exallias brevis causes multifocal bleaching in corals: Comment on Zvuloni et al. (2011)" (PDF). MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES.
- ^ "Leopard Blenny - Exallias brevis - Blennies - Shortbodied Blenny - Tropical Pacific Reefs". reefguide.org. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
- ^ McGrouther, Mark. "Leopard Blenny, Exallias brevis (Kner, 1868)". The Australian Museum. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
External links
- Photos of Exallias on Sealife Collection
