Molly Miller Blenny
(Scartella cristata)

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class Actinopterygii

Order Perciformes
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Family Blenniidae
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

They use most of their body
to generate thrust and P1 fins
to stabilize on surfaces
(Subcarangiform)
Distribution



Atlantic coast of the
Americas
African and European
coast into
Mediterranean
Throughout IndoPacific
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

Male and Female
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 1118mm (30 days)
Mature at 4.5 months
Alternative Reproduction


3 Types of males

Nester (bourgeois)
~7.4cm

Intermediate (holedwellers) ~5.8cm

Sneaker (cuckhold)
~2.5-4.3cm
Some of the highest
rates of progeny by nonnesters of all teleosts
In the Pet Trade
That's All
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_33Mendes%20et%20al.,%202009%20Diet%20and%20trophic%20plasticity%20of%20an%20herbiv
orous%20blenny%20JFB.pdf – Slide 5
http://fishid.com/marinelifeblog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/3-Molly-Millers-Scartella-cristataspawning.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-photographycontest/green-close-up.jpg – Image Slide 9