Blenny

suborder of fishes

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
a typical blenny
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
(unranked): Ovalentaria
Order: Blenniiformes
Bleeker, 1860
Blenny (Ecsenius axelrodi) from East Timor

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.