Tompot blenny

Parablennius gattorugine

Occurring in

Mediterranean

1-30m

DayAndNightActive

not endangered

It is the biggest blenny of them all as it can be up to 30cm long. Above the eyes are two well-developed forehead tentacles that look like small conifers. The Tompot blenny is oblong with a cylindrical body, large head, and large eyes.

Risk of confusion

Zvonimir's hagfish Spitzkopf Schleimfische, die sich im Mittelmeer zum Verwechseln ähnlich sehen.

Surprise blenny Spitzkopf Schleimfische, die sich im Mittelmeer zum Verwechseln ähnlich sehen.

Blackfaced blenny Spitzkopf Schleimfische, die sich im Mittelmeer zum Verwechseln ähnlich sehen.

Red triplefin Spitzkopf Schleimfische, die sich im Mittelmeer zum Verwechseln ähnlich sehen.

Habitat

Shady Rocky Seabed

Sunny Rocky Seabed

Special features

It is the biggest blenny of them all as it can be up to 30cm long.

Above the eyes are two well-developed forehead tentacles that look like small conifers.

divedict_foto_biolexicon_fish_mediterranean_picture_parablenius_gattorugine_gestreifter_much_crotien_Italy_Nord_Adria_France_diving

Appearance

The Tompot blenny is oblong with a cylindrical body, large head, and large eyes. The skin is orange-brown patterned with darker spots arranged in stripes.

It has large pectoral fins that support it on the ground and a long dorsal fin that makes it look bigger when he sets it up.

Natural enemies

Writing bass 534 (Serranus scriba)

Dangerous/venomous

The striped hagfish is neither dangerous nor venomous.

Sketch

parablennius_gattorugine_diveDict

1. Red eye

2. Strips of dark spots

Pro tips

This species lives in shallow water on rocky surfaces (usually between 1-3m), but also likes to stay in caves.

If you dive, swim, or snorkel to the same place several times, you can sometimes see the same animal lurking out of its hiding spot.

This is because the Tompot blenny has its own territory. This is particularly important for males, who protect and hatch the eggs between March and May.

If necessary, they also defend the hedgings with their sharp teeth and strong jaws.

The striped hagfish is an omnivore but mainly forages on algae.

divedict_foto_biolexicon_fish_mediterranean_picture_parablenius_gattorugine_gestreifter_much_krotien_Italy_Nord_Adria_France

divedict_foto_biolexicon_fish_mediterranean_pictures_parablenius_gattorugine_gestreifter_much_krotien_Italy_Nord_Adria_France

Text: Carolina Leiter, Felician Hosp, Pia Balaka

Pic: Felician Hosp, Sabine Probst

Illustration: Sabine Probst