Animal Species:Western Jumping Blenny, Lepidoblennius marmoratus (Macleay, 1878)

The Western Jumping Blenny is a small fish that lives in very shallow marine waters of South Australia and Western Australia.

Western Jumping Blenny, Lepidoblennius marmoratus

Western Jumping Blenny, Lepidoblennius marmoratus
David Muirhead © David Muirhead

Identification

The Western 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 above, pale below, and has blotches or banding on the sides. There are dark vertical lines on the head and rows of dark spots on the dorsal, caudal and pectoral fins.

Size range

It grows to 13 cm in length.

Similar Species

The Eastern Jumping Blenny looks similar. The species can be distinguished by the deep incision in the membrane between the last spine of the first dorsal fin and the fist spine of the second dorsal fin (vs unincised membrane in the Eastern Jumping Blenny). In addition, the Western Jumping Blenny has two anal fin spines (vs no anal fin spines in the Eastern Jumping Blenny).

Distribution

The Western Jumping Blenny is endemic to Australia. It occurs in temperate marine waters, usually on rocky reefs and intertidal areas, from eastern South Australia to south-western Western Australia.

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 marmoratus

Distribution by collection data

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

What does this mean?

Habitat

Rockpools and intertidal zones.

Feeding and Diet

Algae forms much of the diet.

Classification

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

What does this mean?

References

  • Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  • Kuiter, R.H. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  • Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  • Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Western Jumping Blenny, Lepidoblennius marmoratus, Tripterygiidae, grey, green, silver, 'normal fish', 10 cm - 30 cm, blotches/mottled, countershaded, intertidal, marine, adult,