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Blenniiformes (Blennies) >
Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies) > Salariinae
Etymology: Ecsenius: Greek, exenios, -os, -on = uncontrolled, immoderate.
Eponymy: Dr William I Aron (d: 1930) was Director of the Oceanography and Limnology Program at the Smithsonian Institution. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 10 - 37 m (Ref. 5296). Tropical
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba; south to Djetta, Saudi Arabia and Towartit Reef, Sudan.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 5.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710)
Dorsal spines (total): 12 - 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16 - 18; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 19 - 20; Vertebrae: 34 - 37. Dorsal fin XII or XIII (rarely XII),16-18 (rarely 18), deeply notched between spinous and segmented ray sides. Anal fin II,19 or 20. Pectoral fin 13-15 (typically 14). Segmented caudal-fin rays 13. Vertebrae 10 or 11 (rarely 10) + 23-26 (typically 24 or 25) = 34-37 (rarely 34). Dentary
incisor teeth which includes anterior canine teeth very similar in appearance with incisors 46-57; posterior dentary canines 0 or 1 (rarely 0) on each side. Lateral line without pairs
of pores, terminating posteriorly at a point between verticals from dorsal-fin spines 8 and 10. With cirrus on posterior rim of anterior nostril; absent on anterior rim.
Body shape (shape guide): elongated; Cross section: oval.
Adults occur in coral reefs. Secretive (Ref. 9710). Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive (Ref. 205), and are attached to the substrate via a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal (Ref. 94114). Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters (Ref. 94114).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, distinct pairing (Ref. 205).
Lieske, E. and R. Myers, 1994. Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p. (Ref. 9710)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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