Panamic Fanged Blenny

Ophioblennius steindachneri

The Panamic fanged blenny (Ophioblennius steindachneri) is a small, robust combtooth blenny found in the eastern Pacific. Adults reach 12-18 cm and display a dark olive to brownish-black body with a blunt head and prominent fang-like teeth in the lower jaw used for territorial defense rather than feeding. Juveniles may show a broad pale band. They inhabit shallow rocky reefs, surge zones, and reef flats at depths of 1-20 meters, aggressively defending patches of filamentous algae that they cultivate and graze. They are highly territorial, charging at other fish and even approaching divers who encroach on their domain. Their chunky appearance, pronounced underbite, and bold personality give them a comical, bulldog-like character. They are commonly encountered on dives in the Sea of Cortez, along the Mexican Pacific coast, and at the Galapagos Islands, where their territorial displays add entertainment to shallow reef dives.