Tompot blenny
Parablennius gattorugine
IUCN Status:Least Concern
If you follow us on social media (or if not, please do!) then the tompot blenny should look familiar! With beautiful colourings and a comically 'surprised' look, they're a firm favourite.
What do they look like?
This medium-sized elongated fish is always a joy to see, with big, surprised-looking eyes and a large head and prominent ‘eyebrows’ above each eye. These eyebrows are actually frilly tentacles, for which it has been given the nickname ‘the fish with antlers’.
Where can they be found?
Found on the south and west coasts of the UK with records on the west coast of Scotland and Shetland.
Did you know... Male tompot blennys develop enlarged glands that release pheromones to attract females during mating season.
Key facts
They have sharp teeth and feed on animals on the seabed.
A tompot blenny will inhabit holes and crevices in pier legs and they guard their territory fearlessly. Males will clean their crevices to remove mud and unwanted barnacles, and the best crevices attract females, who will lay their eggs there. The male will fertilise the eggs and guard them for over a month against predators. A successful male will welcome several different females over the course of the breeding season.
The eggs hatch into tiny larvae that drift with plankton for around two months, before settling back on the seabed as miniature versions of the adult.
| Also known as | The antler fish |
|---|---|
| IUCN status | Least Concern |
| Length | Up to 30cm |
| Weight | Unknown |
| Speed and distance | They’re not known for their distance, preferring to stay in and around their crevice. |
| Habitat | Rocky shores and reefs, shallow seas. |
| Diet | Algae and invertebrates living on the ocean floor. |
| Lifespan | Up to 9 years. |
