Striped Blenny

These scaleless fish are yellowish brown on top, whitish below, and have many small, dark brown spots.

Diet

These small blennies are territorial predators with strong jaws. They snap up and eat small fish and crustaceans that venture too close to the oyster shells where the blennies lurk.

Size

Both males and females can grow up to 4 inches long.

Range

Blennies inhabit oyster reefs and rocky shores of the western Atlantic Ocean from New Jersey to southern Florida, extending into the Gulf of Mexico to Texas.

Population Status

Striped blennies are not considered threatened or endangered in any part of their natural range. However, loss of oyster reef habitat, due to over-harvesting and disease outbreaks, has likely led to reductions in their population.

Predators

Other fish, eels, and crabs all prey on striped blennies.

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