Teleostei (teleosts) >
Blenniiformes (Blennies) >
Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies) > Salariinae
Etymology: Parablennius: Greek, para = the side of + Greek, blennios = mucus (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Demetrius Zvonimir (d: 1089) was King of Croatia and Dalmatia. The blenny was first identified from the Dalmatian coast. However, as the original text does not give an etymology, this remains a ‘best guess’ identification. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 6 - 12 m (Ref. 80021). Subtropical; 47°N - 30°N, 6°W - 42°E
Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5981)
Facultative air-breathing in the genus (Ref. 126274); Adults inhabit dimly lit biotopes like overhanging rocks or caves. Also found in piddock holes. They graze on periphyton (Ref. 5981). Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive (Ref. 205), and are attached to the substrate via a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal (Ref. 94114). Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters (Ref. 94114).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, distinct pairing (Ref. 205). Female deposit eggs inside an empty mussel, male tends the clutch (Ref. 47356). Courtship behavior entails males rearing up front of body (Ref. 5981). Yawning makes for a defense to drive away rivals (Ref. 5981).
Zander, C.D., 1986. Blenniidae. p. 1096-1112. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and E. Tortonese (eds.) Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, volume 3. UNESCO, Paris. (Ref. 5981)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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