PORT PHILLIP BAY


Oyster Blenny 

Omobranchus anolius (Valenciennes, 1836)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: XI-XIII, 17-19
Anal fin spines/rays: II, 19-20
Caudal fin rays: 12-13
Pectoral fin rays: 13
Ventral fin spines/rays: I, 2

Interpreting fin count meristics.
Spines are in Roman numerals and soft rays are in Arabic numerals. Spines and rays that are continuous in one fin are separated by a comma. Fin sections are separated by semicolons.

Detailed descriptions of fin count and other meristics are in:
Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. and Kuiter, R.H. (2008) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Order level detail.
A Large and highly diverse group of modern bony fishes many of which have a generalized perch like body form. Most have pelvic fins with one spine and 5 rays and the maxillary bone is excluded from the gape of the mouth. Interrelationships of the group are poorly understood and continue to be studied. They inhabit almost all aquatic habitats from high-altitude strams to the deep sea, although most are marine.

Family level detail.
A large family of scaleless fishes, often with blunt heads and fleshy flaps around the nostrils, eyes and top of the head, reduced pelvic fins and long-based dorsal and anal fins. They often have wide mouths with closely-packed comb-like teeth. Most are small and live on shallow reefs, often in tiny crevices, holes, discarded shells and even bottles and cans.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Perciformes
Family:
Blenniidae
Genus:
Omobranchus
Species:
anolius

General Description

Body long, slender, compressed; snout steep, mouth small; eyes near top of head; tentacles absent from nostrils and above eye; dorsal fin long-based; pelvic fins reduced to a hidden spine and two long, slender rays. Males with a prominent fleshy crest on the head, and long filamentous dorsal-fin rays. Usually olive green with black spots and fine bluish or blackish lines along sides, and fine whitish wavy lines on head. To 9 cm.

Biology

This species is common along the east coast. Often found amongst encrusting tube worms in the intertidal region of Port Phillip Bay. Females lay eggs in empty oyster or mussel shells.

Habitat

Shallow tropical and temperate bays and estuaries, especially amongst oyster and mussel beds, in depths of 0-10 m.

Soft substrates

Distribution guide

New Zealand, eastern and south-eastern Australia.

Species Group

Fishes › Blennies

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

9 cm

Diet

Carnivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Least Concern

Author

article author Bray, D.J.

Di Bray is a Senior Collection Manager of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Gomon, M.F.

Dr. Martin Gomon is a Senior Curator of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, Oyster Blenny, Omobranchus anolius, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7998

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