Photo. (c) 2022 Chris Mason-Parker.
Scientific Name: Ecsenius midas
English Name: Midas Blenny
Creole Name:
French Name: Poisson ecsenius midas
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)
Description:
Dorsal spines: 13-14; Dorsal soft rays : 19-21; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 20-23.
A Combtooth blenny with short simple cirrus on nostril and none on eye or nape. Lower jaw canines about twice the size of other teeth. Caudal fin lyre-shaped.
Adults with long outer caudal fin rays.
Colour: Highly variable colouration. Golden-yellow, greyish, greenish or dark brown. Able to change colour quickly. Continuous dorsal fin with dark margin.
Black spot around anus. Yellow specimens often reported to exhibit a pale purple hue.
Size:
Maturity: Unknown. Max length: 13.0 cm TL.
Habitat and Ecology:
Inhabits coastal seaward reefs and outer reef walls usually where currents are moderate (depth 2-40 m). Swims 2 to 3 m above the substrate feeding on plankton.
During its orange-yellow phase often associated with Pseudanthias squamipinnis. Individuals of Ecsenius midas can change color quickly from when on the
bottom to swimming in open water to match the colors of the fishes they mix with. Forms pairs during courtship and spawning. Eggs are demersal, attaching to
the substrate via a pedestal. Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is not subject to the artisanal fishery.
Notes:
Often difficult to approach, disappears into burrow within coral or rock when disturbed.
Holotype of this species was recorded at D'Arros island in the Amirantes (Starck 1969).
References:
ALA. Ecsenius midas Starck, 1969. https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/33ab9079-cb89-429b-9ff6-63df36909e30 (12/09/22).
Bray, D.J. Ecsenius midas in Fishes of Australia, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1065 (12/09/22).
Ecsenius midas Starck 1969, Notulae Naturae, Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 419: 1, figs 1, 3. Type locality: D'Arros Island, Amirante Islands.
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2022). FishBase. https://fishbase.mnhn.fr/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?ID=7561&AT=Midas+coralblenny (11/09/22).
Mason-Parker, C. et al. (2021). Ecsenius midas in Reef Fishes of Seychelles. John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd, UK
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). (Ecsenius midas). The IUCN Red List 2014: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T48342333A48354285.en. (11/09/22).
Citation:
Mason-Parker, C. & Nevill, J.E.G. (2022). Ecsenius midas, Midas blenny. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/ecsenius-midas-starck-1969/