The butterfly blenny (Blennius ocellaris) is a small marine blenniidfish of Northern and Western Europe, as well as the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea and Morocco. It is usually found at a depth of 10–400 metres (33–1,312 ft) down, especially in areas with a rocky floor.
The butterfly blenny has a deep body at the front, tapering rather quickly to the caudal peduncle. It can grow as large as 20 cm (8 in) in length. It has 11 to 12 dorsal spines, 14 to 16 dorsal soft rays, 2 anal spines and 15 to 16 anal soft rays. It has tentacles on the nasal opening, above the eye and on the nape near the first dorsal fin ray. The lateral line is discontinuous. The front part of the dorsal fin is much higher than the remainder of the fin, and the anal fin is also long, running half the body length. The pelvic fins are set well forward and are divided in two. This fish is a mottled brownish-grey, with five to seven dark vertical bars. There is a large bluish-black eyespot surrounded by a white ring on the 6th and 7th rays of the dorsal fin.[2][3]
Distribution and habitatedit
The butterfly blenny has a range that extends from the Mediterranean Sea, up the cost of Spain, Portugal and France to the English Channel and the Irish Sea. It is found over rocky substrates covered with seaweed and this means that it is seldom caught in trawls, and may be more common than it seems. It occurs in the subtidal zone, and its depth range is down to about 100 m (330 ft).[4]
Reproductionedit
It spawns in late spring (as late as June in the English Channel) and hides the eggs under an abandoned shell; the male guards the eggs.[5] An individual near Plymouth was found to be nesting inside the cavity of a large thigh bone.[4]
Referencesedit
^Antonio Di Natale, Murat Bilecenoglu, Michel Bariche, Can Bizsel, Enric Massuti, Jeffrey Williams, Matthew Craig (2014). "Blennius ocellaris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T185126A1768546. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T185126A1768546.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^"Butterfly blenny (Blennius ocellaris)". MarLIN. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
^ abJenkins, J. Travis (1925). The Fishes of the British Isles. Frederick Warne & Co. pp. 111–112.
^"IFM Geomar - Ozeanografie, Ozeanologie und Meteorologie".
December 15, 2023
butterfly, blenny, butterfly, blenny, blennius, ocellaris, small, marine, blenniid, fish, northern, western, europe, well, mediterranean, black, morocco, usually, found, depth, metres, down, especially, areas, with, rocky, floor, conservation, statusleast, con. The butterfly blenny Blennius ocellaris is a small marine blenniid fish of Northern and Western Europe as well as the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea and Morocco It is usually found at a depth of 10 400 metres 33 1 312 ft down especially in areas with a rocky floor Butterfly blennyConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ActinopterygiiOrder BlenniiformesFamily BlenniidaeGenus BlenniusSpecies B ocellarisBinomial nameBlennius ocellarisLinnaeus 1758 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Reproduction 4 ReferencesDescription editThe butterfly blenny has a deep body at the front tapering rather quickly to the caudal peduncle It can grow as large as 20 cm 8 in in length It has 11 to 12 dorsal spines 14 to 16 dorsal soft rays 2 anal spines and 15 to 16 anal soft rays It has tentacles on the nasal opening above the eye and on the nape near the first dorsal fin ray The lateral line is discontinuous The front part of the dorsal fin is much higher than the remainder of the fin and the anal fin is also long running half the body length The pelvic fins are set well forward and are divided in two This fish is a mottled brownish grey with five to seven dark vertical bars There is a large bluish black eyespot surrounded by a white ring on the 6th and 7th rays of the dorsal fin 2 3 Distribution and habitat editThe butterfly blenny has a range that extends from the Mediterranean Sea up the cost of Spain Portugal and France to the English Channel and the Irish Sea It is found over rocky substrates covered with seaweed and this means that it is seldom caught in trawls and may be more common than it seems It occurs in the subtidal zone and its depth range is down to about 100 m 330 ft 4 Reproduction editIt spawns in late spring as late as June in the English Channel and hides the eggs under an abandoned shell the male guards the eggs 5 An individual near Plymouth was found to be nesting inside the cavity of a large thigh bone 4 References edit Antonio Di Natale Murat Bilecenoglu Michel Bariche Can Bizsel Enric Massuti Jeffrey Williams Matthew Craig 2014 Blennius ocellaris IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014 e T185126A1768546 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2014 3 RLTS T185126A1768546 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Butterfly blenny Blennius ocellaris MarLIN Retrieved 18 March 2020 Blennius ocellaris Linnaeus 1758 Butterfly blenny FishBase Retrieved 1 March 2020 a b Jenkins J Travis 1925 The Fishes of the British Isles Frederick Warne amp Co pp 111 112 IFM Geomar Ozeanografie Ozeanologie und Meteorologie Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Butterfly blenny amp oldid 1136473217, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
