Aron’s Blenny

Ecsenius aroni, commonly known as Aron's blenny, is a small, tropical marine fish inhabiting coral reefs in the western 🌊 Indian Ocean, specifically from the 🌊 Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba to Djetta in 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia and Towartit Reef near Port 🇸🇩 Sudan. This species is named in honor of oceanographer William Aron from the Smithsonian Institution. Aron's blenny thrives in depths ranging from 10 to 37 meters (33 to 121 feet). The maximum length of this fish is about 5.5 centimeters (2.2 inches).

Aron's blenny has a distinctive fin structure, with 12 to 13 dorsal spines and 16 to 18 dorsal soft rays. Its dorsal fin is deeply notched between the spinous and segmented ray sides. The anal fin comprises 2 spines and 19 to 20 soft rays, while the pectoral fins typically have 14 rays. The fish possesses 34 to 37 vertebrae, with a specific arrangement. Dentition includes 46 to 57 dentary incisor teeth, which closely resemble anterior canine teeth. The lateral line of the fish lacks paired pores and ends between the 8th and 10th dorsal-fin spines. A cirrus is present on the posterior rim of the anterior nostril.

Adult Aron's blennies are secretive and inhabit coral reefs. They are oviparous, meaning that they lay eggs. These eggs are demersal, meaning they are deposited and attached to the substrate using a filamentous pad. After hatching, the larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow coastal waters.

In terms of its etymology, the genus name "Ecsenius" is derived from Greek, meaning "uncontrolled" or "immoderate," which perhaps reflects some aspect of the species' behavior or habitat preferences.