Animal Species:Eastern Jumping Blenny, Lepidoblennius haplodactylus Steindachner, 1867

The Eastern Jumping Blenny has a three separate dorsal fins and large pectoral fins. It is endemic to Australia.

An Eastern Jumping Blenny at Port Kembla

An Eastern Jumping Blenny at Port Kembla
Sascha Schulz © Sascha Schulz

Alternative Name/s

Jumping Blenny, Jumping Joey

Identification

The Eastern Jumping Blenny has a slightly compressed body and a scaleless head with a steep snout profile. It has three separate dorsal fins, a long-based anal fin and large pectoral fins.

The species is usually grey to greenish-yellow above and pale below. It often has dark saddles across the back and small pale spots.

Size range

It grows to 12 cm in length.

Similar Species

Two species of Lepidoblennius occur in Australian waters. The second is the Western Jumping Blenny, L. marmoratus. The two species have separate distributions - the Western Jumping Blenny is found in South Australia and Western Australia. They can be separated by the broad connection of the fin membrane between the third and fourth dorsal spines in the Eastern Jumping Blenny, versus membrane connected only near the base of the fourth spine in the Western Jumping Blenny.

Distribution

The Eastern Jumping Blenny is endemic to Australia. It occurs in temperate marine waters from the central coast of Queensland to southern Victoria.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Lepidoblennius haplodactylus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Eastern Jumping Blenny specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It is usually found on inshore rocky reefs and tidepools.

Other behaviours and adaptations

The standard name refers to the fact that the Eastern Jumping Blenny is sometimes seen skipping across rocks close to the water’s edge.

Classification

Species:
haplodactylus
Genus:
Lepidoblennius
Family:
Tripterygiidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Fricke, R. 1994. Tripterygiid fishes of Australia, New Zealand and the Southwest Pacific Ocean, with descriptions of 2 new genera and 16 species (Teleostei). Theses Zoologicae. 24: 1–585 figs 1–130.
  2. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437. (as Jumping Joey).


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Eastern Jumping Blenny, Lepidoblennius haplodactylus, Tripterygiidae, grey, green, brown, odd-shaped, 10 cm - 30 cm, stripes or bands, rocky reef, marine, adult,