Maldives blenny
Ecsenius minutus
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Maldives blenny
- Scientific
- Ecsenius minutus
- Dhivehi
- ދިވެހި ވެންފުންނަDhivehi venfunna
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- Up to about 4 cm (total length) (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 5 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2009
Description
A tiny blenny, under 5 cm, light brown with dark blotches at the front and diffuse white spots behind, yellow dots on the cheek and a white-ringed eye with radiating spokes. It lives on coral reefs and grazes filamentous algae and the tiny animals living in it. It is one of the very few fishes known only from the Maldives.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi Wikipedia (MRS-derived) gives dhivehi venfunna, a name coined for the species. Endemic to the Maldives.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Ecsenius-minutus.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ދިވެހި_ވެންފުންނަ
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Ecsenius_minutus..JPG
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Dhivehi venfunna' (Latin form). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ދިވެހި ވެންފުންނަ' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FLAG: the source states no traditional name was recorded and this descriptive name was coined for the book; it is not an established fishermen's name.