Home · Labrisomidae · Goggle eye blenny
Goggle eye blenny (Gobioclinus gobio) — Labrisomidae

Goggle eye blenny

Gobioclinus gobio
Family: Labrisomidae
LC · Least Concern

The Goggle eye blenny (Gobioclinus gobio) is a saltwater fish of the family Labrisomidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
6.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–15.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Rocky coasts, reefs and seagrass beds of the western Atlantic and the Caribbean.
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Goggle eye blenny?

Get the app

Description

Gobioclinus gobio, the palehead blenny, is a small, bottom-dwelling blenny of the family Labrisomidae from the western Atlantic and Caribbean. The species has a stocky, brownish mottled body with a pale head and conspicuously large eyes, and reaches only about 7 cm. It occurs along rocky and rubble-strewn shores with algal mats, on coral reefs and in seagrass beds, where it shelters among vegetation and crevices. As a bottom dweller it feeds on small crustaceans and other invertebrates. Owing to its small size the species is mainly of interest as a reef inhabitant rather than a food fish.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Goggle eye blenny?

The Goggle eye blenny has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern. Pale head and large eyes; small camouflaged little blenny of rocky coasts and reefs.

Where does the Goggle eye blenny live?

The Goggle eye blenny lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Rocky coasts, reefs and seagrass beds of the western Atlantic and the Caribbean.

How big does the Goggle eye blenny get?

The Goggle eye blenny grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Goggle eye blenny dangerous to humans?

No, the Goggle eye blenny 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.

Is the Goggle eye blenny edible?

The Goggle eye blenny is not usually eaten.

More photos

Goggle eye blenny (Gobioclinus gobio) — Labrisomidae — 2
Baldwin, Carole C. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Goggle eye blenny (Gobioclinus gobio) — Labrisomidae — 3
Baldwin, Carole C. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Goggle eye blenny (Gobioclinus gobio) — Labrisomidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Spencer Lott, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Goggle eye blenny (Gobioclinus gobio) — Labrisomidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) annahd, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Goggle eye blenny?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Goggle eye blenny is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Goggle eye blenny verified
Scientific name
Gobioclinus gobio
Family
Labrisomidae
Other names
Goggle-eye blenny; Palehead Blenny; Palehead blenny verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Marbled inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
15.0 verified
Natural range
Rocky coasts, reefs and seagrass beds of the western Atlantic and the Caribbean. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small crustaceans and invertebrates sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Pale head and large eyes; small camouflaged little blenny of rocky coasts and reefs. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
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 Gobioclinus

More from the family Labrisomidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Goggle eye blenny?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Goggle eye blenny is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Goggle eye blenny? Get the app