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Striped blenny (Chasmodes bosquianus) — Blenniidae

Striped blenny

Chasmodes bosquianus
Family: Blenniidae
LC · Least Concern

The Striped blenny (Chasmodes bosquianus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Blenniidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
1.0–30.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Atlantic from New York to the east coast of Florida; shallow oyster beds and hard bottoms in salt and brackish water.
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The striped blenny (Chasmodes bosquianus) is a small blenny of the western Atlantic, from New York to the eastern coast of Florida. It grows to about 15 centimetres and lives in shallow salt and brackish water over oyster beds and hard bottoms at 1-30 metres. The elongate, scaleless body is brown with wavy dark and light lines and spots along the side, a pattern that provides camouflage among shells. The eggs are adhesive and deposited on a substrate, with distinct pairing. The species is harmless and of no fishing interest.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Striped blenny?

The Striped blenny has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern. Scaleless body with wavy dark and pale lines; inhabits oyster beds and hard bottoms.

Where does the Striped blenny live?

The Striped blenny lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Western Atlantic from New York to the east coast of Florida; shallow oyster beds and hard bottoms in salt and brackish water.

How big does the Striped blenny get?

The Striped blenny grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Striped blenny dangerous to humans?

No, the Striped blenny is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Striped blenny edible?

The Striped blenny is not usually eaten.

More photos

Striped blenny (Chasmodes bosquianus) — Blenniidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) jrfleullan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Striped blenny (Chasmodes bosquianus) — Blenniidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (CC BY 2.0)
Striped blenny (Chasmodes bosquianus) — Blenniidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) John Aufderheide, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Striped blenny (Chasmodes bosquianus) — Blenniidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) John Aufderheide, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Striped blenny sourced
Scientific name
Chasmodes bosquianus
Family
Blenniidae
Other names
Striped blenny verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Natural range
Western Atlantic from New York to the east coast of Florida; shallow oyster beds and hard bottoms in salt and brackish water. verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small invertebrates such as amphipods, worms and molluscs. inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Forms permanent pairs and deposits sticky eggs on a hard substrate, which are guarded by the male. sourced
Special features
Scaleless body with wavy dark and pale lines; inhabits oyster beds and hard bottoms. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten verified
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
None required: this species is harmless to humans. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Chasmodes

More from the family Blenniidae

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