Bicolor Blenny
Ecsenius bicolor
Leopard blenny
Exallias brevis
About
The leopard blenny gets its name from a spotted coat that never quite looks the same twice, changing with sex and age. It reaches up to 14.5 cm.
Also known as: leopard rockskipper, pao'o kauila, shortbodied blenny, leopard rockskipper, leopard rock skipper, shortbodied blenny, spotted coral blenny, pink-spotted blenny, shortbodied blenny, spotted coral blenny, pink-spotted blenny
- Length
- 14.5 cm
- Depth
- 3–8 m
How to tell it apart
Its blunt head and heavily spotted body set it apart from more slender, plain-bodied blennies; red body spots against a brown-spotted head mark out a male, while all-brown spotting marks a female or juvenile.
Appearance
It has a blunt head and a body covered in spots that vary in colour and pattern. Males show brown spots on the head and red spots on the body, while females and young fish are covered in brown spots all over. Numerous small papillae, tiny fleshy bumps, line the upper lip.
Did you know?
It is the only known species in its genus, Exallias, making it one of a kind among blennies.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.
