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| Blennies | |
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| a typical blenny | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| (unranked): | Ovalentaria |
| Order: | Blenniiformes Bleeker, 1860 |
A blenny is a member of a large order of teleost fish called the Blenniiformes. The suborder has about 900 species in 151 genera.
Blennies are generally small fish. They have long bodies (some almost eel-like), and relatively large eyes and mouths. Their dorsal fins are continuous and long. The pelvic fins have a single embedded spine, and are short and slender. The tail fin is rounded.
The blunt heads of blennies often have whisker-like structures called cirri. As generally benthic fish, blennioids spend much of their time on or near the sea floor.
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