Variable Blenny

Parablennius pilicornis

The variable blenny (Parablennius pilicornis) is a small combtooth blenny found in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. Adults reach 8-12 cm and display highly variable coloration ranging from brown and grey to olive and reddish, with darker mottling and bars, which gives the species its common name. They have distinctive branched supraorbital tentacles (cirri) above the eyes, a characteristic feature of many blenny species. They inhabit rocky reefs, boulder fields, and artificial structures at depths of 1-30 meters, often occupying small holes and crevices from which they peer out with their expressive faces. They are omnivorous, feeding on algae, small invertebrates, and detritus. Males guard territories and care for eggs laid in crevices. Their comical appearance and habit of popping out of holes to observe passing divers makes them endearing subjects. They are one of the most commonly encountered blennies across the Mediterranean and Macaronesian islands.