Dentex Blenny

Ecsenius dentex

The Dentex Blenny, a member of the combtooth blenny family, is native to the western Indian Ocean, specifically the gulfs of Aqaba and Suez, and the northwestern Red Sea. This small fish reaches a maximum length of 4.8 centimeters and is characterized by its elongated, oval-shaped body. It can be identified by its distinct dorsal fin, which has between 11 and 13 spines and 13 to 15 soft rays, and its anal fin, which typically has 15 to 17 soft rays. The Dentex Blenny lacks a lateral line with vertical pairs of pores, which is a distinguishing feature from similar species. This blenny inhabits shallow marine environments, typically found at depths ranging from 0 to 4 meters. It prefers tropical waters and is often seen in coastal areas where it feeds primarily on benthic algae and weeds. The Dentex Blenny is an oviparous species, meaning it lays eggs that are demersal and adhesive, attaching to substrates via a filamentous pad. The larvae are planktonic and are usually found in shallow waters. Divers encountering the Dentex Blenny can expect to see it grazing on algae in its natural habitat. It is considered harmless to humans and is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.