Tentacled Blenny

Parablennius tentacularis

The Tentacled Blenny is a small combtooth blenny that reaches up to 15 cm in length. It has a fusiform body shape and is known for its characteristic tentacles above the eyes, which help distinguish it from other blennies. This species is commonly found in the Mediterranean Sea, excluding its eastern parts, as well as in the Sea of Marmara, the Black Sea, and the eastern Atlantic near Portugal, Spain, and Morocco down to Guinea. It also inhabits the Canary Islands. Divers can encounter the Tentacled Blenny in shallow coastal waters, typically at depths ranging from 3 to 15 meters. It prefers sandy bottoms with boulders and light vegetation, often hiding in crevices where males guard nests. The fish is demersal and can also be found in brackish waters of estuaries or deltas. The Tentacled Blenny is oviparous, with males guarding the eggs deposited by several females until they hatch. The larvae are planktonic and often found in shallow waters. The Tentacled Blenny is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Divers might find this species to be harmless and of no interest to fisheries, although it is sometimes kept in commercial aquariums.