Home · Blenniidae · Tessellated blenny
Tessellated blenny (Entomacrodus decussatus) — Blenniidae

Tessellated blenny

Entomacrodus decussatus
Family: Blenniidae

The Tessellated blenny (Entomacrodus decussatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Blenniidae that grows up to 19 cm.

Length
19 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–3.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Tessellated blenny?

Get the app

Description

The tessellated blenny is a combtooth blenny (Blenniidae) from the surf zone and tide pools of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 8 cm and has a scaleless, stocky, brown-checkered body with a blunt head, high-set eyes and small cirri above the eyes. With comb-like teeth it rasps algae from rocks; at low tide it nimbly skips from pool to pool and can stay briefly out of the water. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Tessellated blenny?

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

Where does the Tessellated blenny live?

The Tessellated blenny lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam and others

How big does the Tessellated blenny get?

The Tessellated blenny grows to a maximum of about 19 cm.

Is the Tessellated blenny dangerous to humans?

No, the Tessellated 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 Tessellated blenny edible?

Yes, the Tessellated blenny is commonly eaten.

More photos

Tessellated blenny (Entomacrodus decussatus) — Blenniidae — 2
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Tessellated blenny (Entomacrodus decussatus) — Blenniidae — 3
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Tessellated blenny (Entomacrodus decussatus) — Blenniidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) momaz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Tessellated blenny (Entomacrodus decussatus) — Blenniidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Floyd E. Hayes, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Tessellated blenny?

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

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Tessellated blenny sourced
Scientific name
Entomacrodus decussatus
Family
Blenniidae
Other names
Wavyline rockskipper; Wavy-lined blenny; Wavy lined blenny verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
19.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) 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, Australia, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam 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

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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 Entomacrodus

More from the family Blenniidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Tessellated blenny?

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

Get the app →
Is this the Tessellated blenny? Get the app