The Rock-Pool Blenny is a species in the large clade of Percomorpha and thus belongs to the superclass of the bony fish.
Description
The body of Parablennius parvicornis is elongated, almost eel-like. Parablennius parvicornis has a black head with bright pattern, which runs to the tail in the reverse colouration. The dorsal fin has a reddish margin. In addition, the colour may vary!
The Rock-Pool Blenny reaches a maximum length of 15cm.
Habitat and Distribution
One finds Parablennius parvicornis in shallow waters, with plenty of sunlight, algae growth, up to one meter deep and very often in tide pools. When diving in the Canaries we meet him rather rare. However, when walking the coast an checking the tide pools it is very frequently to be seen.
It is also spread around Madeira, the Azores, Cape Verde, Morocco and from Mauritania to the Congo.
Biology
The Rock-Pool Blenny feeds exclusively on algae. At low tide, they usually stay in small tide pools. Should a rock pool dry out, it can change another rock pool by passing a small route on land. In order not to be flushed out of the tide pool when the water runs off, it has a kind of suction cup on its underside.
Reproduction takes place in nests, which the male has prepared. After egg laying, the male guard the eggs, until they hatch as plankton larvae. The males defend their territory aggressively.