Home · Chaenopsidae · Papillose blenny
Papillose blenny (Acanthemblemaria harpeza) — Chaenopsidae

Papillose blenny

Acanthemblemaria harpeza
Family: Chaenopsidae

The Papillose blenny (Acanthemblemaria harpeza) is a saltwater fish of the family Chaenopsidae that grows up to 3 cm.

Length
3 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–5.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The papillose blenny is a small tube blenny (Chaenopsidae) from shallow reef water of the western Atlantic and Caribbean. The species grows to about 3 cm and has a slender, elongate body with a pointed head set with fine skin papillae and cirri above the eyes. It occupies an abandoned worm tube or bore hole in coral, pokes out only its head and snaps at passing zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Papillose blenny?

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

Where does the Papillose blenny live?

The Papillose blenny lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Papillose blenny get?

The Papillose blenny grows to a maximum of about 3 cm.

Is the Papillose blenny dangerous to humans?

No, the Papillose blenny is harmless to humans.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Papil-buisslijmvis sourced
English name
Papillose blenny sourced
Scientific name
Acanthemblemaria harpeza
Family
Chaenopsidae

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
5.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
Yes inferred
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

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →