PORT PHILLIP BAY


Tasmanian Blenny 

Parablennius tasmanianus (Richardson, 1842)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: XII, 16-19
Anal fin spines/rays: II, 19-20
Caudal fin rays: 13
Pectoral fin rays: 14
Ventral fin spines/rays: I, 3

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:
Parablennius
Species:
tasmanianus

General Description

Head and body somewhat compressed, robust anteriorly, tapering towards tail; dorsal fin long-based; long fleshy fringed tentacles above each eye; large individuals with bulbous heads. Pale brownish to bluish grey, covered in very fine spots or stipples. Males with about 6 indistinct darker saddle-like markings above midline of body; females with indistinct saddles, each broken up into a checkerboard pattern. To 13 cm.

Biology

This species is very common in Port Phillip Bay, especially in tide pools and around jetties or pylons. Individuals are also seen poking their heads from small holes and crevices, or even from discarded cans and bottles.

Habitat

Shallow rocky reefs in sheltered bays and estuaries, in depths of 0-10 m.

Reefs

Distribution guide

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

13 cm

Diet

Carnivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Conservation Status

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

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, Tasmanian Blenny, Parablennius tasmanianus, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 26 Apr 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/8000

Text: creative commons cc by licence