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Molly Miller Blenny ( Scartella cristata ). Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Perciformes Family Blenniidae. They use most of their body to generate thrust and P 1 fins to stabilize on surfaces (Subcarangiform). Morphology. 1 extended dorsal fin D. XII, 14-15
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Molly Miller Blenny (Scartella cristata) • Kingdom Animalia • Phylum Chordata • Class Actinopterygii • Order Perciformes • Family Blenniidae
They use most of their body to generate thrust and P1 fins to stabilize on surfaces (Subcarangiform) Morphology • 1 extended dorsal fin D. XII, 14-15 • A. II, 14-17 • Short supraorbital cirri • Elongate body • No swim bladder • Jugular P2 fins • Scaleless • Terminal mouth
Distribution • Atlantic coast of the Americas • African and European coast into Mediterranean • Throughout Indo-Pacific
Male and Female Ecology • Maximum length of 12cm (4.75in) but usually 10cm (4in) • Inhabits 0-10m (Most dense at 2-4m) • Non-migratory, benthic, dwells in covered areas • Can change color • Sexual dimorphism by urogenital papilla in males and pronounced first anal spine
Feeding Ecology • Herbivore/Detrivore • Influenced greatly by season and temperature • Prefers filamentous algaes (25-50%) • Detritus (35-65%) • Leaves “kiss marks” • Preyed upon by larger rock-outcropping predators
Maturation and Reproduction • External nest builders • Eggs are adhesive • Larvae hatch at 3mm • Metamorphose at 11mm • Settlement at 11-18mm (30 days) • Mature at 4.5 months
Alternative Reproduction • 3 Types of males • Nester (bourgeois) ~7.4cm • Intermediate (hole-dwellers) ~5.8cm • Sneaker (cuckhold) ~2.5-4.3cm • Some of the highest rates of progeny by non-nesters of all teleosts
Sources http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/9/fish – Slide 1,2, 3, 4, 6. Images Slide 1,4, 6, 7 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1095-8649.2003.00122.x/full – Slide 7 http://www.lecar.uff.br/uploads/site_publicacoes/583_33-Mendes%20et%20al.,%202009%20Diet%20and%20trophic%20plasticity%20of%20an%20herbivorous%20blenny%20JFB.pdf – Slide 5 http://fishid.com/marinelifeblog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/3-Molly-Millers-Scartella-cristata-spawning.jpg - Image Slide 1 http://www.fishbase.us/summary/3770 - Slide2, 3, 4. Image Slide 3 http://www.alessandrofalleni.com/home/vertebrati-pesci/scartella-cristata - Image Slide 2 http://bluelemonphoto.smugmug.com/Other/135gReef/DSC3580/956440494_oYn5q-O.jpg – Image Slide 5 http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+2730+1429&pcatid=1429 – Image Slide 8 http://www.newscientist.com/data/galleries/dn16986-rosenstiel-school-underwater-photography-contest/green-close-up.jpg – Image Slide 9