MEPS 463:297-299 (2012)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10002

ABSTRACT: The shortbodied blenny Exallias brevis is an obligate corallivore. Studies on Hawaiian reefs and casual observations on other Pacific reefs reveal that E. brevis feeds on a wide variety of scleractinian corals, including the hydrocoral Millepora spp. This blenny produces distinctive circular feeding marks of ca. 2 cm² on corals; the marks can persist for 50 d or more. E. brevis is indigenous to the Red Sea and may be responsible for the multifocal bleaching syndrome in Red Sea Millepora dichotoma described by Zvuloni et al. (2011; Mar Ecol Prog Ser 441:25−32).

KEY WORDS: Exallias brevis · Shortbodied blenny · Corallivore · Millepora spp. · Multifocal bleaching · Red Sea

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Cite this article as: Carlson BA (2012) Feeding activity by the blenny Exallias brevis causes multifocal bleaching in corals: Comment on Zvuloni et al. (2011). Mar Ecol Prog Ser 463:297-299. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10002 Export citation Share:    Facebook - - linkedIn