Blenny
Order: Perciformes Family: Blennidae Genus: Lipophrys spp.
Found in rocky coastal waters in the North Sea, Irish Sea, English Channel and in the eastern North Atlantic as far south as Senegal in western Africa. Also occurs in the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea. The blenny lies in shallow water, waiting for the seas current to bring it food. At the slightest disturbance, it vanishes into a nearby crevice.
| Habitat Blennies are small, bottom-dwelling fish of rocky coasts and shorelines most often found in the intertidal zone on rocky shores, and are particularly common in rocky pools. |
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They also inhabit sandy coasts and areas of thick sea grass. During
winter storms and gales, most species head for the safety of offshore deeper waters.
Where most species seldom occur in waters deeper than 6m, the shanny (L. pholis)
may be found at depths of up to 30m. In southern Europe, there is a species of freshwater blenny (L. fluviatilis) which lives in rivers and lakes. Most other blennies prefer saltwater, and some can tolerate the brackish water of estuaries and rain-diluted pools. |
Behaviour From the cover of weed or a hole, at high tide the blenny watches for food, mates and predators which include seagulls, waders and predatory fish, especially dogfish. It darts out to investigate any object that drifts into its territory. Male blennies are particularly territorial and aggressively chase away any rivals. |
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| Sometimes, intruders will steal a territory by biting onto one of the
occupants pectoral fins and dragging him out of his hole. Females aren't bound to
any one area and may roam around the territories of many males. Normally as the tide goes out, the blennies go with it or move into rockpools. Males of some species, including the peacock blenny and shanny stay in damp crevices to safeguard their territory. |
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What they eat The blenny has a broad diet, enabling it to take advantage of the ever changing food supply brought by the seas currents. They can break open barnacles to get at the soft body inside, or cruch open crabs, limpets and mussels. It will also ambush small fish, including juvenile blennies. Freshwater blennies prey on small crustaceans, insect larvae and fish eggs, as well as fry. |
Breeding Males of most species of blenny display elaborate courtship bahaviour. The male shanny, for example, becomes much darker in the breeding season, with contrasting pale lips. When a female enters his territory, he erects his long dorsal fin and rocks from side to side or nods his head repeatedly to attract her attention. |
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| In some species, such as the peacock blenny, the male releases secretions from his anal glands to attract mates. If a female shows interest, the male guides her towards a crevice or a gap under a stone. She lays her eggs and he quickly fertilizes them. The male guards them as they develop, eating any that decay so the rest stay healthy. When the fry hatch, their father deserts them. They drift out to sea until they are big enough to hold their place in the strong currents and tides of the shore. |