Plagiotremus ewaensis
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Blenniiformes
Family:	Blenniidae
Genus:	Plagiotremus
Species:	P. ewaensis
Binomial name
Plagiotremus ewaensis (Brock, 1948)
Synonyms
Petroscirtes ewaensis Brock, 1948

Plagiotremus ewaensis, the Ewa blenny, Ewa fangblenny or the blue-stripe blenny, is a reef fish belonging to the Blenniidae family. This species of combtooth blenny can be found in coral reefs and is an endemic species to the Hawaiian Islands.^[2]

Description

This species is orange or reddish-brown in color, with blue and black stripes along the length of their body.^[3] They can grow up to about 4 in (100 mm).^[4] The Ewa fang blenny gets its name from their sharp fangs.^[3] They have fangs which they use to bite off flesh from their food sources and defending themselves from predators.^[3][5] If they get eaten, the fang blenny will bite the inside of their predator’s mouth until the predator allows them to escape.^[3] The Ewa fang blenny is a carnivore, wandering the reef to feed on scales, skin, and mucus from bigger fish.^[4][3] This species is a secondary consumer, which means that they also feed on predators, like sharks.^[4][6]

Distribution and habitat

The Ewa fang blenny is an endemic species that currently exists in the Hawaiian Islands. ^[7] This species resides in the reef in sea depths of 4 to 55 meters and temperatures ranging from 76.82 °F - 80.24 °F (or 24.9°C - 26.8°C). ^[7] The fang blenny will make use of empty worm snail holes in the reef as protection when predators try to attack.^[8]

References

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