Blenny

ID points

• Often has forked fleshy tentacles above the eyes
• No swim bladder, so it always rests on the reef rather than hovering
• Body slender and soft, with the dorsal fin running from head to tail

Basics

Family

Blenniidae

Length

5–15 cm

Depth

0-20 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs · Caribbean & W. Atlantic

Distribution

Shallow coral and rocky reefs worldwide

Diet

Algae, detritus

Easily confused with

Boxer CrabEach claw holds a small anemone like a boxing gloveCone SnailCone-shaped shell patterned like printed clothDecorator CrabShell stuck all over with sponges, algae and hydroids as camouflage

Fun fact

The Blenny grows whisker-like brows above its eyes, fleshy skin appendages that give it a comically expressive face. It likes to lodge in small holes in the rock and is fiercely territorial, chasing off any intruder that enters its patch.