Blennies

Blennies are small, brightly colored fishes with long, continuous dorsal fins. They grow to about 3 to 4 inches long.

What species of blennies live in the Bay?

Two species of blennies can be found in the Bay:

• The striped blenny, Chasmodes bosquianus, is olive-green in color with various dark spots and blotches. Females have long, pale green lines; males have bright blue lines, a spotted head, an orange stripe across the dorsal fin and a bright blue spot near the front of it.
• The feather blenny, Hypsoblennius hentz, has two feathery, branching tentacles on the head. The head, body and fins are covered in brown spots, sometimes forming lines or bars. Males also have a bright blue spot near the front of the dorsal fin.

Where do blennies live?

Blennies are abundant, year-round residents of the Bay.

• During the warmer months they live in shallow waters, mostly among oyster reefs but also over mud flats and grass beds.
• In the winter they move to the Bay's deep channels.

What do blennies eat?

Blennies feed mostly on small mollusks and crustaceans.

How do blennies reproduce?

Blennies spawn from early spring to August.

• Females lay round, amber-colored eggs inside of empty oyster shells, preferably within live oyster reefs.
• Male striped blennies aggressively guard the eggs until they hatch.

Other facts about blennies:

• Though they are abundant in number, blennies are solitary, secretive fish and are not seen frequently. With a little luck you may find one hiding within an empty oyster shell in the shallows.