| Tompot blenny | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Blenniiformes |
| Family: | Blenniidae |
| Genus: | Parablennius |
| Species: | P. gattorugine |
| Binomial name | |
| Parablennius gattorugine | |
| Synonyms | |
The tompot blenny (Parablennius gattorugine) is a species of combtooth blenny from the north eastern Atlantic Ocean which is found in shallow, coastal waters off western Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa.
The tompot blenny is a relatively large blenny with an elongated body, large head and large eyes [2] which grows to up to 30 centimetres (12 in) in length. The eyes are bicoloured with their top part being brown and the bottom part is white. [3] There is a single branched tentacle over each of its eyes. It is mainly yellow-brown in colour, although occasionally it is greenish and is marked with at least seven dark bars starting at the dorsal fin and which reach the belly. [4] As well as the tentacles over the eyes there are also tentacles over the nostrils. The lateral line is continuous but becomes broken towards the tail. The breeding males become chocolate brown in colour and develop bulb-like glands on the spines of the anal fin. The dorsal fin runs the length of its body and is divided into two halves by a shallow notch. The anterior portion of the fin is contains the spiny rays while the posterior portion contains the soft rays. [3] The dorsal fin has 13–14 spines and 17–20 ray while the anal fin has 2 spines and 19–23 rays. [5] It has relatively large pectoral fins. [6] Each individual has a unique set of markings on the scales of the face which mean that studies of their biology can identify individuals. [7]
The tompot blenny is found along the Atlantic coast of Europe from southern England and Ireland to Morocco. [5] It is also found throughout the Mediterranean Sea to the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. [1] In Great Britain it is mainly recorded off the south and west coasts and is largely absent from the North Sea coasts, although it has been seen on wrecks off the North Norfolk coast. [3] [8] and off eastern Scotland as far north as the Shetland Islands. [4]
Tompot blennies are very territorial and their territories are centred around a crevice in the rocky reef which the fish uses for shelter. [2] They occur in shallow seas at depths of 3–32 metres (9.8–105.0 ft) [4] although smaller specimens occur in rockpools. [2] They may be found above the low tide mark at very low tides, sheltering under boulders or among exposed vegetation. [4]
Tompot blennies have sharp, comb-like teeth which they use to scrape food from the substrate. They feed on sea anemones [2] and on other invertebrates [6] such as prawns and other crustaceans. [9] They are crepuscular, being active mainly at dawn and at dusk. [5]
As most fish, tompot blennies harbour several species of parasites, including the capillariid Nematode Pseudocapillaria bainae . This parasite has been found in the intestine of specimens caught off Italy and Montenegro. [10] Its biology is unknown. [11]
Tompot blennies spawn in March to May the males mate with a number of females and guards their eggs. The eggs are demersal and like those of all blennies they stick to the substrate by a filamentous adhesive patch. The male guards the eggs until the larvae hatch, usually about a month after laying. [5] The males defend their territories from other males and often fight each other, frequently receiving injuries. When breeding the males develop pale cauliflower like glands on their anal fins which are believed to play a role in attracting females and in cleaning the eggs. [7]
The specific name was first used by Francis Willughby in 1688 after he had observed these blennies in Venice and heard them called gatto ruggine which he translated as "rusty cat" or "rust colour", although he was afraid that he did not fully understand the name. However the actual name is gatto rusola or gotto rosula which is a local name for blennies in general along the Adriatic coast of Italy and which is a diminutive of gotto roso meaning "thick throat". [12]
Allard's clownfish or Allard's anemonefish is a marine fish belonging to the family Pomacentridae, the clownfishes and damselfishes, from the western Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa and the Mascarenes.
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The butterfly blenny is a small marine blenniid fish of Northern and Western Europe, as well as the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea and Morocco. It is usually found at a depth of 10–400 metres (33–1,312 ft) down, especially in areas with a rocky floor.
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Pterois antennata, the spotfin lionfish, banded lionfish, broadbarred lionfish, broadbarred firefish, raggedfinned firefish, raggedfinned scorpionfish or roughscaled lionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. It is found in the tropical Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.
Dendrochirus brachypterus, the dwarf lionfish, short-finned turkeyfish, shortspine rockcod or shortspine scorpionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. It is found in the Indo-Pacific. It is sometimes found in the aquarium trade.
The Australian blenny is a small marine blennioid fish of the genus Ecsenius. They are small and reddish brown with a white ventral side. Australian blennies inhabit the shallow marine waters of the tropics. They are often found along the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea of Australia.
Montagu's blenny, also known as the capuchin blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny found in the intertidal zones of the eastern Atlantic ocean from England to Madeira and the Canary Islands as well the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. This species prefers rocky shores with much wave action. This species grows to a length of 7.6 centimetres (3.0 in) SL. It is the only species in the genus Coryphoblennius.
Bellator egretta, the streamer searobin, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Triglidae, the sea robins. This fish is found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
Istiblennius dussumieri, the streaky rockskipper, is a species of combtooth blenny found in coral reefs in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is also commonly known as the Dussumier's rockskipper, streaky dussumier, or the Dussumier's blenny.
The seaweed blenny is a species of combtooth blenny found in coral reefs in the western Atlantic Ocean along the coasts of New York, Bermuda, the Bahamas, also in the Gulf of Mexico, south to southern Brazil. This species reaches a length of 8.5 centimetres (3.3 in) TL.
The Portuguese blenny, also known as the red blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny found in the eastern Atlantic ocean off western Europe and Macaronesia.
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Genicanthus caudovittatus, the zebra angelfish, swallowtail angelfish, and lyretail angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the Indian Ocean.
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Media related to Parablennius gattorugine at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Parablennius gattorugine at Wikispecies