Home · Blenniidae · Tasmanian blenny
Tasmanian blenny (Parablennius tasmanianus) — Blenniidae

Tasmanian blenny

Parablennius tasmanianus
Family: Blenniidae

The Tasmanian blenny (Parablennius tasmanianus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Blenniidae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
13 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Omnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Tasmanian blenny is a scaleless blenny (Blenniidae) from temperate coastal and estuarine waters of southeastern Australia and Tasmania. The species grows to about 13 cm and has a stocky, brown-mottled body with a blunt head and fringe-like tufts (cirri) above the eyes. As a bottom-dweller it shelters in crevices, holes and empty shells of rocky reefs and tide pools and rasps algae and snaps small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Tasmanian blenny?

The Tasmanian blenny has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Tasmanian blenny live?

The Tasmanian blenny lives in brackish water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Tasmanian blenny get?

The Tasmanian blenny grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Tasmanian blenny dangerous to humans?

No, the Tasmanian 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
Tasmaanse slijmvis sourced
English name
Tasmanian blenny sourced
Scientific name
Parablennius tasmanianus
Family
Blenniidae
Other names
Bully; Horned blenny; Southern blenny; Tasmanian blenny verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
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 Parablennius

More from the family Blenniidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

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

Get the beta →