Montagu's Blenny

Overview

Montagu's Blenny is a small, resilient fish adapted to life in the wave-battered rocky intertidal zone. It is notable for its ability to breathe air, allowing it to survive for short periods out of the water by sheltering under rocks and seaweed during low tide.

Distribution & habitat

This species is found in the northeastern Atlantic, ranging from the southern coasts of Great Britain and Ireland down to Guinea, including the Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands. It is also common throughout the Mediterranean, the Sea of Marmara, and parts of the Black Sea. It prefers rocky shores with significant wave action and is frequently observed in rock pools, particularly those dominated by coralline algae.

Appearance

This scaleless, elongated fish typically reaches 8–9 cm in length. Its body is generally pale brown with olive-green vertical stripes and light blue spots. A key identifying feature is the fringed, fleshy, triangular crest located on the top of its head between the eyes, which continues as a series of short tentacles along the dorsal surface. It has a single long dorsal fin with a distinct notch.

Biology & behavior

Montagu's Blenny is primarily diurnal and opportunistic. Males are territorial, often guarding nests in crevices, depressions, or piddock holes. During the breeding season, males clean and ventilate these nesting sites, where they guard egg masses deposited by multiple females.

Feeding

As an omnivore, its diet shifts with age. Juveniles primarily consume small crustaceans like copepods and ostracods, while adults incorporate more algae into their diet. They are known to feed on the limbs of barnacles by biting them off as they emerge from their shells.