Bicolor Blenny

(photo taken 8/23/00)

 

Bicolor blennies normally live in holes in rocks in Indo-Pacific coral reefs, making forays out from the safety of their holes to graze on algae using their broad, rasping mouths. This male blenny has taken up residence in the front bulkhead near the upper right corner of the seagrass tank (this and one other bulkhead connects the seagrass tank to an overflow box in the reef tank).

 

Bicolor blennies are named for their two-tone coloration: dark brown in front, with the rear portion of the body orange.

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Note that the bulkhead fitting is thoroughly encrusted with life, including pink coralline algae, Caulerpa sp. (a green macroalgae), and Valonia (a type of green algae producing green bubble-like growths). Several small brittlestars live among these algae. The white and brown banded arm of a small brittlestar of a species that reproduces in the tank is visible sticking downward directly to the right of the blenny (length of arm slightly longer than width of the blenny's eye). Another longer white arm of a different brittlestar is visible at the right edge of the bulkhead extending downward by the glass. This larger species is a bioluminescent brittlestar from the Florida Keys; when harassed at night, the arms of these brittlestars flash with bright green light.