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Clubhead barnacle blenny (Acanthemblemaria balanorum) — Chaenopsidae

Clubhead barnacle blenny

Acanthemblemaria balanorum
Family: Chaenopsidae

The Clubhead barnacle blenny (Acanthemblemaria balanorum) is a saltwater fish of the family Chaenopsidae that grows up to 5 cm.

Length
5.2 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–5.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The clubhead barnacle blenny is a small blenny (Chaenopsidae) from the eastern Pacific, off Central America. The species grows to about 5 cm and has an elongate body and a strikingly blunt forehead set with knobs. It lives in empty barnacle and worm tubes on shallow rocky reefs, defends its tube fiercely and picks small zooplankton from the current. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Clubhead barnacle blenny?

The Clubhead barnacle blenny has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Clubhead barnacle blenny live?

The Clubhead barnacle blenny lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Clubhead barnacle blenny get?

The Clubhead barnacle blenny grows to a maximum of about 5 cm.

Is the Clubhead barnacle blenny dangerous to humans?

No, the Clubhead barnacle blenny is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Knotskop-zeepokslijmvis sourced
English name
Clubhead barnacle blenny sourced
Scientific name
Acanthemblemaria balanorum
Family
Chaenopsidae
Other names
Clubhead blenny verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.2 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
5.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
Yes sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Acanthemblemaria

More from the family Chaenopsidae

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