New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts
First records of the Australian blenny, Omobranchus anolius, from
New Zealand
Malcolm P. Francis
Peter J. Smith
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric
Research Limited
Private Bag 14 901
Wellington, New Zealand
email: m.francis@niwa.co.nz
Cameron Walsh
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric
Research Limited
P.O. Box 109 695
Auckland, New Zealand
Martin F. Gomon
Museum Victoria
G.P.O. Box 666E
Melbourne
Victoria 3001, Australia
Abstract Twenty-four blennies collected in east Auckland,
New Zealand, were identified as the Australian oyster blenny, Omobranchus
anolius using taxonomic and molecular characters. This species appears
to have been introduced recently to New Zealand. Auckland oyster blennies
mainly inhabited dead oyster shells in water pooled under intertidal boulders
on mudflats. Specimens ranged from small juveniles to large mature males,
suggesting that the species is breeding in New Zealand, or that there have
been multiple incursion events. Oyster blennies may be capable of colonising
estuaries throughout the northern North Island, and possibly farther south.
Control or eradication of O. anolius would be facilitated by its intertidal
habitat, lack of an escape response when found, and the very limited movement
and natural dispersal of adults and larvae.
Keywords Omobranchus anolius; blenny; invasion;
biosecurity; mitochondrial DNA
M04062; Received 26 March 2004, accepted 18 May 2004; Online publication
date 5 August 2004
New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 2004, Vol. 38:
671-679
0028-8330/04/3804-0671 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2004
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