Blenny - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blennies | |
---|---|
a typical blenny | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
(unranked): | Ovalentaria |
Order: | Blenniiformes Bleeker, 1860 |
A blenny is a member of a large order of teleost fish called the Blenniiformes. The suborder has about 900 species in 151 genera.
Blennies are generally small fish. They have long bodies (some almost eel-like), and relatively large eyes and mouths. Their dorsal fins are continuous and long. The pelvic fins have a single embedded spine, and are short and slender. The tail fin is rounded.
The blunt heads of blennies often have whisker-like structures called cirri. As generally benthic fish, blennioids spend much of their time on or near the sea floor.
They are quite similar in form to some gobies.