The animals loosely termed fish constitute more than half of all known vertebrate species. There are approximately 27,000 described living species of bony fishes (Euteleostomi = Osteichthyes), about 70 species of hagfishes and some 34 species of lampreys. Approximately 970 species are chondrichthyans, the sharks and their relatives, which were the

Blennies are diverse group of bony fishes found around the globe. Most blennies are small and somewhat difficult to identify, so until recently these fish did not occupy the interests of many ichthyologists and even fewer ecologists. With nearly 900 species, blennies are important members of most coastal marine communities. This book should stimula