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* ''Blennius sphynx'' [[Valenciennes]], 1836
* ''Blennius sphynx'' [[Valenciennes]], 1836
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The '''Sphinx blenny''' ('''''Aidablennius sphynx'''''), is a species of [[combtooth blenny]], and the only species in the genus ''Aidablennius''.<ref>[http://www.fishbase.org/identification/SpeciesList.php?genus=Aidablennius Species in the genus ''Aidablennius''] at www.fishbase.org.</ref> It was described by [[Achille Valenciennes]] in 1836, originally under the genus ''[[Blennius]]''.<ref name="Valenciennes, 1836">Cuvier, G. and A. Valenciennes, 1836 (July) [ref. 1005] ''Histoire naturelle des poissons.'' Tome onzième. Livre treizième. De la famille des Mugiloïdes. Livre quatorzième. De la famille des Gobioïdes. Histoire naturelle des poissons v. 11: i-xx + 1-506 + 2 pp., Pls. 307-343.</ref> It is a [[subtropical]] blenny known from [[Morocco]], in the eastern [[Atlantic Ocean]], and also from the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] and [[Black Sea]]s.<ref name="Fishbase">[http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?genusname=Aidablennius&speciesname=sphynx ''Aidablennius sphynx''] at www.fishbase.org.</ref> Sphinx blennies inhabit shallow, rocky waters in the [[littoral zone]], with sunlight exposure. They feed primarily on [[benthic]] [[algae]], [[weed]]s and [[invertebrates]].<ref>[http://www.fishbase.org/TrophicEco/FoodItemsList.php?vstockcode=20482&genus=Aidablennius&species=sphynx Food items for ''Aidablennius sphynx''] at www.fishbase.org.</ref> Male Sphinx blennies can measure up to {{convert|8|cm}} long.<ref name="Fishbase"/>
The '''Sphinx blenny''' ('''''Aidablennius sphynx'''''), is a species of [[combtooth blenny]], and the only species in the genus ''Aidablennius''.<ref>[http://www.fishbase.org/identification/SpeciesList.php?genus=Aidablennius Species in the genus ''Aidablennius''] at www.fishbase.org.</ref> It was described by [[Achille Valenciennes]] in 1836, originally under the genus ''[[Blennius]]''.<ref name="Valenciennes, 1836">Cuvier, G. and A. Valenciennes, 1836 (July) [ref. 1005] ''Histoire naturelle des poissons.'' Tome onzième. Livre treizième. De la famille des Mugiloïdes. Livre quatorzième. De la famille des Gobioïdes. Histoire naturelle des poissons v. 11: i-xx + 1-506 + 2 pp., Pls. 307-343.</ref> It is a [[subtropical]] blenny known from [[Morocco]], in the eastern [[Atlantic Ocean]], and also from the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] and [[Black Sea]]s.<ref name="Fishbase">[http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?genusname=Aidablennius&speciesname=sphynx ''Aidablennius sphynx''] at www.fishbase.org.</ref> Sphinx blennies inhabit shallow, rocky waters in the [[littoral zone]], with sunlight exposure. They feed primarily on [[benthic]] [[algae]], [[weed]]s and [[invertebrates]].<ref>[http://www.fishbase.org/TrophicEco/FoodItemsList.php?vstockcode=20482&genus=Aidablennius&species=sphynx Food items for ''Aidablennius sphynx''] at www.fishbase.org.</ref> Male sphinx blennies can measure up to {{convert|8|cm}} long.<ref name="Fishbase"/>


==Reproduction==
==Reproduction==

Revision as of 02:29, 5 April 2012

Sphinx blenny
Male Sphinx blenny
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Aidablennius
Species:
A. sphynx
Binomial name
Aidablennius sphynx
(Valenciennes, 1836)

The Sphinx blenny (Aidablennius sphynx), is a species of combtooth blenny, and the only species in the genus Aidablennius.[2] It was described by Achille Valenciennes in 1836, originally under the genus Blennius.[3] It is a subtropical blenny known from Morocco, in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, and also from the Mediterranean and Black Seas.[4] Sphinx blennies inhabit shallow, rocky waters in the littoral zone, with sunlight exposure. They feed primarily on benthic algae, weeds and invertebrates.[5] Male sphinx blennies can measure up to 8 centimetres (3.1 in) long.[4]

Reproduction

In mating, the blennies form individual pairs, and the females lay up to 7000 eggs in a sitting, which are then guarded in burrows by the males.[6] Males are known to cannibalize dead eggs to prevent infection spread amongst the healthy eggs, although in smaller broods they have also been reported consuming living eggs. It is believed that this is due to limited feeding opportunities for the males during breeding, as a result of their restriction to the nests.[7] FishBase considers the blennies to be of Low Vulnerability, with a reproductive doubling time of less than 15 months.[4]

References

  1. ^ Synonyms of Aidablennius sphynx at www.fishbase.org.
  2. ^ Species in the genus Aidablennius at www.fishbase.org.
  3. ^ Cuvier, G. and A. Valenciennes, 1836 (July) [ref. 1005] Histoire naturelle des poissons. Tome onzième. Livre treizième. De la famille des Mugiloïdes. Livre quatorzième. De la famille des Gobioïdes. Histoire naturelle des poissons v. 11: i-xx + 1-506 + 2 pp., Pls. 307-343.
  4. ^ a b c Aidablennius sphynx at www.fishbase.org.
  5. ^ Food items for Aidablennius sphynx at www.fishbase.org.
  6. ^ Reproduction of Aidablennius sphynx at www.fishbase.org.
  7. ^ Female preference and filial cannibalism in Aidablennius sphynx (Teleostei, Blenniidae); a combined field and laboratory study Sarah B.M. Kraak, Zoological Laboratory, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Accepted 30 March, 1995.

External links