Blennius ocellaris

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular names
English : Butterfly blenny
French : Blennie-papillon

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Blenniiformes
Family : Blenniidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Scaleless body, reaching a length up to 20 cm. Unmistakable with its very high dorsal fin with filamentous tips and a white-edged black marking. Body is beige-brown with white dots on lower half and vertical dark brown bands on flanks.

Range and habitat
North-east Atlantic from English Channel to Morocco and Mediterranean Sea. Found over soft bottoms such as sandy or muddy bottoms, usually in shallow waters but can go down to 400 meters.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species isn’t threatened and can be locally common. The main threat is pollution and degradation of its habitats.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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