Blackfaced blenny

Tripterygion delaisi

Occurring in

Mediterranean
North Atlantic

0-40m

DayActive

not endangered

During mating season, they experience a color change: from usually grey-brown, it changes to yellow with a black head and that of the females changes to salmon pink with white spots. His appearance is characterized in particular by the spherical eyes and the strikingly large head, the rest of his body is delicate and elongated. Its fins are pointed and can glow slightly white at the ends.

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.

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

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

Habitat

Rocky Reef

Special features

During mating season, they experience a color change: from usually grey-brown, it changes to yellow with a black head and that of the females changes to salmon pink with white spots.

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Appearance

His appearance is characterized in particular by the spherical eyes and the strikingly large head, the rest of his body is delicate and elongated.

Its fins are pointed and can glow slightly white at the ends.

They are best camouflaged on calcareous algae crusts.

Natural enemies

Predatory fish

Dangerous/Venomous

This species is neither dangerous nor venomous.

Sketch

Tripterygion delaisi_divedict

1. Big head

2. Very spherical eyes

3. Delicate, pointed fins

Pro tips

They like to live in shallow water in the surf areas of rocky coasts and prefer to look for cool, shady spots such as the entrances to caves.

With their pointed mouth, they suck up their food; tiny crabs such as copepods and amphipods.

Their large ball-like eyes can detect the smallest reflections of light, making it easy for them to track down their prey.

To seduce females, males try their hand at eight-swimming.

If they are successful, the females lay their eggs in algae and secure them with sticky threads.

The males are then the guardians of the eggs of several females.

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Text: Carolina Leiter, Felician Hosp, Pia Balaka

Pic: Felician Hosp, Sabine Probst

Illustration: Dive Dict