Plagiotremus ewaensis | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Blenniiformes |
Family: | Blenniidae |
Genus: | Plagiotremus |
Species: | P. ewaensis
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Binomial name | |
Plagiotremus ewaensis (Brock, 1948)
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Synonyms | |
Petroscirtes ewaensis Brock, 1948 |
Plagiotremus ewaensis, the Ewa blenny, Ewa fangblenny or the blue-stripe blenny, is a reef fish belonging to the Blenniidae family. This species of combtooth blenny can be found in coral reefs and is an endemic species to the Hawaiian Islands.[2]
This species is orange or reddish-brown in color, with blue and black stripes along the length of their body.[3] They can grow up to about 4 in (100 mm).[4] The Ewa fang blenny gets its name from their sharp fangs.[3] They have fangs which they use to bite off flesh from their food sources and defending themselves from predators.[3][5] If they get eaten, the fang blenny will bite the inside of their predator’s mouth until the predator allows them to escape.[3] The Ewa fang blenny is a carnivore, wandering the reef to feed on scales, skin, and mucus from bigger fish.[4][3] This species is a secondary consumer, which means that they also feed on predators, like sharks.[4][6]
The Ewa fang blenny is an endemic species that currently exists in the Hawaiian Islands. [7] This species resides in the reef in sea depths of 4 to 55 meters and temperatures ranging from 76.82 °F - 80.24 °F (or 24.9°C - 26.8°C). [7] The fang blenny will make use of empty worm snail holes in the reef as protection when predators try to attack.[8]