Atrosalarias fuscus, commonly referred to as the dusky blenny, brown coral blenny, or black blenny, is a small species of marine fish belonging to the family Blenniidae. Typically reaching up to 14.5 centimeters (about 5.7 inches) in length, this species inhabits tropical marine environments.
The dusky blenny is typically found in shallow waters, ranging from just 2 to 12 meters (approximately 6.6 to 39.4 feet) deep. It prefers sheltered reefs, residing among the branches of live or dead coral. These fish are often solitary, occupying a variety of habitats from estuaries to outer reef lagoons.
In terms of reproductive behavior, Atrosalarias fuscus is oviparous, meaning it lays eggs, with distinct pairing observed among individuals. The eggs are demersal and equipped with adhesive pads that keep them anchored to substrates in their environment. The larvae are planktonic, frequently located in the shallow coastal waters.
Anatomically, the dusky blenny is characterized by having 9 to 11 dorsal spines and 18 to 20 dorsal soft rays. Additionally, it possesses 2 anal spines and 18 to 20 anal soft rays, with a vertebral count ranging from 33 to 35. This species is distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific region, including the 🌊 Red Sea.
The name Atrosalarias fuscus is derived from Latin roots: "atro" meaning black and "salar" or "salaris" referring to trout, reflecting its coloration and body resemblance.
Why it's threatened
There are no major threats known for this species.
Threat classification from the IUCN Red List.
