Bony fish · Perciformes · Blenniidae

Peacock Blenny

Salaria pavo

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Size

up to 13.8 cm

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Fun facts

The breeding male develops a conspicuous fleshy crest on his head; females preferentially choose those with the larger crest.
There is a second type of male, much smaller, that mimics female behaviour to slip into the nest and fertilise the eggs on the sly.
It is a facultative air breather, and the males hold out in their crevices above the waterline through low tide.

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bony fish)
Habitat & environment: The intertidal zone and shallow rock, sand and shingle bottoms of the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Atlantic from France to Morocco; also in harbours, breakwaters and brackish water, down to about 10 m

Sources consulted: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peacock_blenny