Ewa blenny (Plagiotremus ewaensis)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Blenniiformes · Family: Blenniidae · Genus: Plagiotremus.

Accepted name: Plagiotremus ewaensis · Authority: (Brock, 1948) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 278235.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Petroscirtes ewaensis Brock, 1948.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=278235 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Plagiotremus ewaensis. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 10.199999809265137 cm · Depth range: 4–55 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: elongated · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Adults are benthic and benthopelagic in or over coral (Ref. 58302). They hover generally above the reef waiting for unwary prey. They feed on fishes. 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). Difficult to rear in aquaria because they cannot easily be induced to accept ordinary fish food (Ref. 3921).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 7833) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Plagiotremus-ewaensis.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

702 georeferenced occurrence records for Plagiotremus ewaensis are published through GBIF from 2 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 28 distinct locations from a sample of 702 records, omitting 10 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: United States of America (642); United States Minor Outlying Islands (60).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2395972) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2395972&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=278235 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Plagiotremus ewaensis (Brock, 1948) as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 48342097) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/48342097/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2395972) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2395972/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

This species is orange or reddish-brown in color, with blue and black stripes along the length of their body. They can grow up to about 4 in. The Ewa fang blenny gets its name from their sharp fangs. They have fangs which they use to bite off flesh from their food sources and defending themselves from predators.

If they get eaten, the fang blenny will bite the inside of their predator's mouth until the predator allows them to escape. The Ewa fang blenny is a carnivore, wandering the reef to feed on scales, skin, and mucus from bigger fish. This species is a secondary consumer, which means that they also feed on predators, like sharks.

The Ewa fang blenny is an endemic species that currently exists in the Hawaiian Islands. 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). The fang blenny will make use of empty worm snail holes in the reef as protection when predators try to attack.

Source: Wikipedia: Plagiotremus ewaensis — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiotremus_ewaensis (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.