Description:

Dorsal spines: 12; Dorsal rays: 12-13; Anal spines: 2; Anal rays: 14-15.

Numerous papillae on the upper lip. No canines in lower jaw, no teeth on vomer. Branched tentacle above each eye. Nuchal cirri (30-36) in a tranverse comb with narrow gap 
at dorsal midline. Anterior lateral line with numerous dorsal and ventral branches terminating in pores. 

Colour. Whitish to cream base colour. Body, head and fins covered with numerous dark spots, sometimes arranged in clusters on body. The spots are brown in females and 
juveniles. Males have brown spots on the head and abdomen but red spots on the rest of the body. The dorsal and caudal fins of males are usually reddish. 
 

Maturity: Unknown. Max length : 14.5 cm TL.

Occurs on clear coastal reefs, often in bays and semi-exposed habitats (depth 3-20 m, usually 3-8 m) among corals like Acropora, Pocillopora, Seriatopora, Porites, 
and Millepora. Benthic. Obligate corallivore. Produces distinctive circular feeding marks (white scars) on coral that can persist for 50 days or more. Males prepare nesting 
sites by overgrazing a patch of coral. Oviparous, distinct pairing. Eggs are demersal and adhesive. Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters.
 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is not subject to fishing pressure. 

Photo courtesy Eleanor Brighton and Chris Mason-Parker (c) 2022 Blue Safari Seychelles/Marine Conservation Society, Seychelles. Photograph taken at Alphonse group 2022.

Bray, D.J. Exallias brevis in Fishes of Australia, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1911 (20/07/22). 
Carlson, B.A. (2012). Feeding activity by the blenny Exallias brevis causes multifocal bleaching in corals: Comment on Zvuloni et al. (2011). Mar Ecol prog Ser 463: 297-299, 2012.
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2022). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.de/summary/Exallias-brevis.html (20/07/22).
McGrouther, M. (2021). Leopard Blenny, Exallias brevis (Kner, 1868). https://australian.museum/learn/animals/fishes/leopard-blenny-exallias-brevis/ (20/07/22).
Smith, M. & Heemstra, P. (Eds.) (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4 
Williams, J.T. (2014). Exallias brevis. The IUCN Red List 2014: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T48342137A48376893.en. (20/07/22). 

Nevill, J.E.G., Brighton, E. & Mason-Parker, C. (2022). Exallias brevis, Leopard blenny. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/exallias-brevis-kner-1868/