The carpet eel-blenny (Congrogadus subducens), also known as the green wolf eel or green wolf eel blenny, is a relatively large species of dottyback found in coastal parts of the Indo-West Pacific, including coral reefs, among rocks, seagrass beds, tidal flats and in brackish habitats.[1][2] Despite the common names, it is unrelated to the true wolf eel of the North Pacific, the true eel of the order Anguilliformes and the true blennies of the suborder Blennioidei.[3]

Congrogadus subducens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Family: Pseudochromidae
Genus: Congrogadus
Species:
C. subducens
Binomial name
Congrogadus subducens
(Richardson, 1843)
Synonyms
  • Machaerium subducens Richardson, 1843
  • Machaerium nebulatum Bleeker, 1852
  • Congrogadus nebulatus (Bleeker, 1852)
  • Machaerium reticulatum Bleeker, 1853
  • Congrogadus reticulatus (Bleeker, 1853)
  • Stenophus marmoratus Castelnau, 1875
  • Stenophus obscurus Castelnau, 1875
  • Hierichthys encryptes D.S. Jordan & Fowler, 1902
  • Congrogadus encryptes (D.S. Jordan & Fowler, 1902)

It is the largest dottyback, reaching up to 45 cm (1 ft 6 in) in length.[1][4] The colour is very variable (green, brown, black or bluish; often with spots or blotches) and the carpet eel-blenny can change it to match the surroundings.[1][2][5]

The carpet eel-blenny occasionally makes its way into the marine aquarium trade, but it is predatory and will eat crustaceans and smaller fish.[2][6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2016). "Congrogadus subducens" in FishBase. November 2016 version.
  2. ^ a b c Goemans, B. (November 2008). Dottybacks—Choose Carefully! TFH Magazine. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. ^ Reefkeeping (April 2005). Care and Breeding of the Green Wolf Eel Blenny. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  4. ^ Lieske, E., and Myers, R. (1999). Coral Reef Fishes. 2nd edition. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-00481-1
  5. ^ Tan, R. (2008, updated October 2016). Carpet eel-blenny. Wild Singapore. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  6. ^ Reefkeeping (April 2004). What the Heck is That? The Genus Congrogadus. Retrieved 12 November 2016.