Midas Coralblenny

Golden orange in color; black spot around anus; anterior part of dorsal fin with narrow dark margin (Ref. 4404). Indonesian form grey or greenish to golden-yellow. Tail long in adults (Ref. 48636).

Oviparous, distinct pairing (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 13 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 19 - 21; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 20 - 23

Inhabits coral reefs (Ref. 9710). During its orange-yellow phase, it is observed to school with Pseudanthias squamipinnis which it resembles in color. Reported to feed on zooplankton.

Adults inhabit coral reefs (Ref. 9710), from clear coastal to outer reef walls, usually where currents are moderate (Ref. 48636). They swim 2 to 3 m above the benthos, feeding on plankton (Ref. 94105). During the orange-yellow phase, they are observed to school with Pseudanthias squamipinnis which they resemble in color. 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 (Ref. 48636). They also socially mimic their swimming behavior and also of Pseudanthias huchtii and Lepidozygus tapeinosomoa (Ref. 90102). Reported to feed on zooplankton (Ref. 37816). Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive (Ref. 205), and are attached to the substrate via a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal (Ref. 94114). Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters (Ref. 94114). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 9710.

aquarium: commercial

Ecsenius midas Starck

New locality records for E. midas are given in the list below. Also, we have been informed of one specimen (CAS 34384, 40.2 mm SL) from Grand Comore Island. The eight specimens from Maré were reportedly collected at a depth of 55 m, the deepest known for any species of Ecsenius. The single specimen from Kabaena Island has a segmented dorsal-fin ray count of 18, one less than previously reported for this species.

NEW MATERIAL.—MAURITIUS. BPBM 15941 (1 specimen: 86.4), 15944 (3:35.2–77.3). COCOS KEELING ISLANDS. ANSP 128011 (2:42.0–48.6). INDONESIA. CELEBES: Kabaena Island, USNM 211913 (1:46.3). SOLOMON ISLANDS. Florida Island, AM I.17532-001 (1:75.5). NEW HEBRIDES, Efate Island, USNM 214736 (1:52.4). FIJI ISLANDS. USNM 214786 (1:67.2). LOYALTY ISLANDS. Maré Island, USNM 213727 (3:33.5–36.3), BPBM 19701 (5:31.2–40.5).

Ecsenius (Anthiiblennius) midas Starck

Six specimens (BPBM 10866, 29.2–67.3 mm SL) collected by J. E. Randall at Ua Pou, Marquesas Islands, represent an eastward range extension of approximately 65° of longitude for this species over that reported by me (1971). The species now has the greatest range of any species of Ecsenius, and is the only one known to occur west of Tonga.

I (1971) reported the following caudal vertebral counts for E. midas: Red Sea, 27 (4 specimens); Indian Ocean 28–29 (6 specimens); Great Barrier Reef, 27–28 (2 specimens). The Marquesas specimens have 28–29 caudal vertebrae, similar to the Indian Ocean specimens. Apparently, caudal vertebral count is variable with population.

Ecsenius pulcher species group

In the graph showing the relationship between longest caudal fin-ray length as percent standard length against standard length (Springer, 1971: 26, fig. 11), the symbols for males and females were transposed (should be open symbols for females and solid symbols for males), and the open rectangle at coordinates 35 percent, 58 mm, should be solid.

Ecsenius midas Starck

Ecsenius (Anthiiblennius) midas Starck, 1969:1 [D'Arros Island, Amirante Islands; holotype, ANSP 111148].—Springer, 1971:13; Springer, 1972:1.

Ecsenius midas.—McKinney and Springer, 1976:10.

DESCRIPTION.—Dorsal fin XII–XIV (usually XIII),18–21 (usually 19 or 20), without notch between spinous and segmented-ray portions. Anal fin II,20–23 (rarely 20). Pectoral fin 12–14 (usually 13). Segmented caudal-fin rays 13 to 15 (usually 14). Vertebrae 10–11 (rarely 10) +27–29 = 38–40. Dentary incisor teeth (does not include anterior canine teeth, which are greatly enlarged and conspicuous) 11–14 (modally 14, rarely 11 or 12); posterior dentary canines 0–2 (usually 1) on each side. Lateral line without pairs of pores, terminating posteriorly at point between verticals from dorsal-fin spines 7–9. Cirrus present on posterior rim of anterior nostril; none on anterior rim.

Preserved Color: In preservative, head and body usually dark dusky anteriorly, paling gradually posteriorly and becoming unpigmented on caudal peduncle and much of caudal fin, but some specimens more or less uniformly pale dusky. One or two diffuse, dusky markings occasionally present on head, one of which is a small spot at 11 o’clock position on orbital margin, the other a stripe beginning just posterior to ventroposterior orbital margin and extending diagonally upward across cheek. Lips and cirri dark. One specimen had some diffuse vertical bands on body; most exhibit several faint, fine dusky lines outlining myomeres. Most consistent and conspicuous marking is black spot extending anteriorly from anus. Dorsal fin varying from almost black to faintly dusky anteriorly; specimens with darkest fins with fine pale edging on posterior half of fin; specimens with palest fins with darker distal edging to spinous portion, edging continuing onto less dark segmented-ray portion as slightly subdistal stripe; distal edge of segmented-ray portion immaculate. Anal fin varying from uniformly dark dusky to pale dusky with slightly darker fine distal edging. Caudal fin more-or-less pale with duskier dorsal and ventral lobes, or lobes only with fine, dusky edging. Pectoral-fin rays dusky, interradial membranes immaculate. Pelvic fins dusky.

Live Color: Coloration of E. midas is extremely variable. Starck (1969) reported life color to be golden yellow. A freshly dead specimen from the Gulf of Aqaba (Springer, 1971) had the head pale dusky orange with narrow, pale yellow-green stripe extending posteriorly from orbit to opercle; underside of head white; side of body pale dusky purple overlying orange; venter chartreuse; dorsal, anal, and caudal fins orange yellow; pectoral fin pale yellow green. Dr. L. Fishelson (pers. comm.) described the color of live Gulf of Aqaba specimens as very similar to that of [female] Anthias squamipinnis Peters, with which it was swimming. A color photograph (Plate 3: figure 6) of a Sudan (Red Sea) specimen in the wild swimming with Anthias squamipinnis, shows it to be overall yellow, more yellow than the A. squamipinnis. Photographs (by A. Norman; in files of TFH Publications, Inc.) of a live Red Sea specimen in an aquarium (in New York), show an individual very similar to A. squamipinnis in its overall yellow-orange color.

Photographs (Plate 3: figures 3, 4) of living specimens in the wild at Christmas Island, Indian Ocean, are variably bright yellow dorsally, grayish white laterally or posteriorly, with yellow dorsal and ventral caudal-fin lobes, or brownish anteriorly with brownish or yellowish-brown bands on the body.

Photographs (Plate 3: figure 5) taken in the wild of a live specimen at Mauritius show an individual exhibiting a complex pattern that is quite different from that of any other specimens. The dusky markings on the head of the Red Sea specimens are present as brilliant yellow spots on the Mauritius specimen; the dusky anterior portions of the head and dorsal fin exhibit a faint yellow suffusion; the fine dusky stripes outlining the myomeres, which are scarcely noticeable in Red Sea specimens, are black in the Mauritius specimen, and there is a fine, black stripe that begins anteriorly on the lateral line and continues on to the caudal peduncle (absent in Red Sea specimens); the ventral portions of the body and head are pearly white; the dorsal fin bears a fine immaculate distal edge below which is a fine, blackish area that becomes deeper posteriorly and grades into a complex dark and pale vermiculated pattern covering the entire segmented-ray portion of the fin, and extending diffusely onto the dorsalmost portions of the body. The dorsal edge of the dorsal lobe of the caudal fin is white, the lobe is otherwise dusky with a faintly yellow tip; the ventral lobe is dusky, but the ventral edge and tip are not visible. According to J.E. Randall (pers. comm.), the generally orange type coloration found in specimens from other localities also occurs at Mauritius. I am unable to differentiate preserved specimens from Mauritius and other localities based on color pattern.

GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION.—Based on the limited samples available, it appears that statistically significant geographic variation may occur in numbers of segmented dorsal-and anal-fin rays and caudal vertebrae. Specimens from the Gulf of Aqaba and western Pacific appear to have fewer of these elements than specimens from the Indian Ocean and Marquesas (Table 9).

DISTRIBUTION.—From the Gulf of Aqaba and southeast coast of Africa east to the Marquesas Islands. Specimens or reports are notably lacking from the west coast of Australia and from north of the Philippines in the Pacific.

MATERIAL (* = new material).—Egypt: Sinai coast, UTAI 4221 (1 specimen: 71 mm SL), USNM 204707 (1:77), 204559 (1:45), 204551 (1:69). Sudan: Port Sudan, BPBM 20419* (1:58). Amirante Islands: ANSP 134980* (1:72), 111148 (holotype: 74), 111149 (1:49), 111854 (1:34, cleared and stained), USNM 202422 (1:56). Grand Comore Island: CAS 34384 (1:39). Chagos Islands: ROM 43805* (3:44–53), 43806* (4:41–50), 43807* (2:46, 50), 43808* (2:37, 48), 43809* (5:43–57). Mauritius: BPBM 15945 (1:86), 15944 (3:35–77), 21844* (1:66), RUSI 7166* (1:74). South Africa: Zululand, Sodwana Bay, RUSI 9180* (5:63–98). Nicobar Islands: SMF 9579 (1:83), 9577 (1:44). Cocos-Keeling Islands: ANSP 128011 (2:42, 49). Philippines: Palawan, USNM 227402* (2:75, 84). Indonesia: Kabaena Island, USNM 211913 (1:46). Papua-New Guinea: Madang, BPBM 15866* (1:63); Port Moresby, ANSP 158830* (2:47, 64). Australia: Great Barrier Reef, Northern Escape Reef, ANSP 109686 (2:28, 29), AMS 1.22638-100* (1:63). Solomon Islands: AMS I.17532-001 (1:76). New Hebrides: USNM 214736 (1:53). Loyalty Islands: USNM 213727 (3:34–36, including one cleared and stained), BPBM 19701 (5:31–40). Fiji: USNM 214786 (1:67). Marquesas Islands: BPBM 10866 (6:29–67), 11934* (8:34–84), 12104* (2:37, 47), 12400* (1:68). Line Islands: Christmas Island, BPBM 30656* (1:60).

Ecsenius (Anthiiblennius) midas Starck

Ecsenius (Anthiiblennius) midas Starck, 1969, p. 1 [D’Arros Island, Amirante Islands].

DESCRIPTION.—Dorsal spines 13–14 (usually 13); dorsal rays 19–21; segmented anal rays 20–23; pectoral rays 13 (12 on one side only of one specimen); segmented caudal rays 13–15 (usually 14); dorsal procurrent caudal rays 9–10; ventral procurrent caudal rays 9–10; total caudal elements 31–34; gill-rakers 10–15; pseudobranchial filaments 6–12; lower incisor teeth 13 to 16; lower jaw posterior canines 1; total lower jaw posterior canines 2; upper incisor teeth 26–34; precaudal vertebrae 11; caudal vertebrae 27–29; total vertebrae 38–40; epipleural ribs 22–25. Lateral line with no paired pores, extending posteriorly to beneath level of 7th-9th dorsal spine. Dorsal fin without notch. Third (innermost) pelvic ray obvious. One cirrus on each anterior nostril.

Color pattern: The Red Sea and Indian Ocean specimens of this species are generally dusky, darkest anteriorly, and paling on the caudal peduncle of some specimens. The lower side of the head is darker anteriorly and on some specimens a dusky stripe occurs on each side proceeding dorsoposteriorly from the side of the lower jaw and curving upward along the membranous margin of the branchiostegal membrane. A few specimens exhibit a diffusely dusky stripe beginning just behind the ventroposterior border of the eye and extending back across the opercle. One specimen had some diffuse vertical bands on the body. The most conspicuous mark is a dark spot enveloping the anus and extending anteriorly for a short distance. The dorsal fin bears a narrow, dark distal stripe beginning anteriorly on the spinous portion and extending to the anterior dorsal rays. This fin is usually dark anteriorly, making it difficult or impossible to count the spines externally. The anal fin is pale dusky, slightly darker on the spines and, in some specimens, along its distal edge. The caudal fin varies from immaculate to evenly dusky with its dorsal and ventral margins narrowly, darkly pigmented. The pectorals are generally pale with the rays sometimes narrowly and darkly pigmented. The pelvics are dusky. The two small Great Barrier Reef specimens differed from the others most noticeably in having the dorsal fin dusky, but with the distal portion of the segmented ray part of the fin unmarked and the edge of the dusky area much darker than the remainder in the region below the unmarked part.

Starck (1969) reported the life color to be golden yellow, darker dorsally except for a fine black marginal line on the dorsal fin and a black blotch around the anus. The color of a freshly killed female (USNM 204550) I collected in the Red Sea was somewhat different. The head was pale orange-dusky with a narrow, pale yellow-green stripe extending posteriorly from the orbit to the opercle margin. The underside of the head was pale white except for the dark dusky lower jaw. The sides of the body were pale purple-dusky overlying orange. The venter was chartreuse. The dorsal, anal, and caudal fins were orange-yellow. The pectoral fins were pale yellow-green.

GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION.—There are too few specimens of E. midas to draw firm conclusions, but it appears from the fact that the four Red Sea specimens have 27 caudal vertebrae and the six Indian Ocean specimens have 28 or 29 caudal vertebrae, that population differences occur. The two Great Barrier Reef specimens have 27 and 28 caudal vertebrae and are thus intermediate between the specimens from the other two areas.

MATERIAL.—Gulf of Aqaba, Sinai coast, Dahab, UTAI 4221 (71.2) and USNM 204707 (77.1); Ras Muhammad, southern tip of Sinai Peninsula, USNM 204550 (45.1) and 204551 (68.9); Amirantes Islands, D’Arros Island, ANSP 111148 (74.4, holotype of E. midas), 111149 (48.7), 111854 (33.5, cleared and stained), and USNM 202422 (56.0); Nicobar Islands, NFIS 9579 (83.1); Nicobar Islands, Tillanchong, NFIS 9577 (44.4); Australia, Queensland, Escape Reef, ANSP 109686 (2:28.5–29.0).

Ecsenius midas, known commonly as the Midas blenny, Persian blenny, lyretail blenny or golden blenny, is a species of marine fish in the family Blenniidae.

The Midas blenny is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific area from the eastern coast of Africa, Red Sea included, to the Marquesan Islands. The specific name references the Phrygian king Midas who, in Greek mythology turned all he touched into gold, the type was a golden color in life although it is now known that this species is variable in color.

It grows to a size of 13 cm in length. Its normal color is golden orange but it can adapt its color (mimicry) to match the color of the fishes it mixes with. It shows a black spot near the anus. It is often seen in company of the lyretail anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis).

The Midas blenny is a planktivore.

It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.

Found at depths of at least 30 m. During its orange-yellow phase, it is observed to school with @Pseudanthias squamipinnis@ which it resembles in color. Reported to feed on zooplankton.