Colours

Distinguishing features

A small fish usually found resting on the top of coral heads. Highly variable colour pattern but most common is dark grey front half, bright orange rear half. The white-belly variation (see photo) is less common at Lizard Island.

Size

Depth range

Synonyms

Distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

They are found in reef habitats not exposed to heavy wave action. They typically rest on the tops of massive Porites coral heads in shallow water.

Behaviour

The Bicolor Combtooth Blenny lives in small family groups on top of prominant coral heads and bommies. They rest on the pectoral fins in between bouts of feeding and chasing each other around the territory.

Diet

These fishes are mainly detritivores, combing small particles of organic material from the turf algae found inside the damselfish territories of Ward's Damsel and the Dusky Gregory, which typically farm algae on the tops of the bommies favoured by the blenny.

Web resources

References