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Beautiful rockskipper (Istiblennius bellus) — Blenniidae

Beautiful rockskipper

Istiblennius bellus
Family: Blenniidae

The Beautiful rockskipper (Istiblennius bellus) is a saltwater fish of the family Blenniidae that grows up to 16 cm.

Length
16 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–3.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: American Samoa, Christmas I., Marquesas Is., Guam, Kenya, Madagascar and others

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Description

The beautiful rockskipper is a combtooth blenny (Blenniidae) from the tidal zone of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a scaleless, brown-marbled body with a blunt head, high-set eyes and a fringe crest over the nape. With comb-like teeth it rasps algae from wet rocks; at low tide it stays active in splash pools and skips over the rock. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Beautiful rockskipper?

The Beautiful rockskipper has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Beautiful rockskipper live?

The Beautiful rockskipper lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: American Samoa, Christmas I., Marquesas Is., Guam, Kenya, Madagascar and others

How big does the Beautiful rockskipper get?

The Beautiful rockskipper grows to a maximum of about 16 cm.

Is the Beautiful rockskipper dangerous to humans?

No, the Beautiful rockskipper is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Beautiful rockskipper (Istiblennius bellus) — Blenniidae — 2
SAIAB (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Beautiful rockskipper (Istiblennius bellus) — Blenniidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) moxcalvitiumtorgos, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Beautiful rockskipper (Istiblennius bellus) — Blenniidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Lisa_James, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Beautiful rockskipper (Istiblennius bellus) — Blenniidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Gigi Laidler, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Beautiful rockskipper sourced
Scientific name
Istiblennius bellus
Family
Blenniidae
Other names
Beautiful rockskipper; Dusky blenny; Imspringer verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
16.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
3.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: American Samoa, Christmas I., Marquesas Is., Guam, Kenya, Madagascar and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Istiblennius

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Fin

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