Black-faced blenny

IDC
Tripterygion delaisi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Tripterygiidae
Genus:	Tripterygion
Species:	T. delaisi
Binomial name
Tripterygion delaisi Cadenat & Blache, 1970
Synonyms
Tripterygion atlanticus Wheeler & Dunne, 1975 Tripterygion delaisi delaisi Cadenat & Blache, 1970 Tripterygion delaisi xanthosoma Zander & Heymer, 1970 Tripterygion melanurum (non Guichenot, 1850) Tripterygion nasus (non Risso, 1826) Tripterygion tripteronotus (non Risso, 1810) Tripterygion xanthosoma Zander & Heymer, 1970

The black-faced blenny (Tripterygion delaisi) is a species of fish in the family Tripterygiidae, the threefin blennies. It is widespread in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea from the English Channel to the coast of western Africa as far south as Senegal.^[1]

This species is up to 6 centimeters long. It lives in crevices at depths of 5 to 40 meters. It feeds on micro-crustaceans. When threatened it freezes rather than swimming away, relying on its cryptic color patterning to disguise it against the substrate.^[2]

This fish has bright red fluorescent irises in its eyes which it can regulate quickly, making them brighter or duller.^[2]

References