Tompot blenny

Tompot blenny
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Osteichthyes
Order: Perciformes
Family: Blenniidae
Genus: Parablennius
Species: P. gattorugine
Binomial name
Parablennius gattorugine
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms

The tompot blenny (Parablennius gattorugine) is a medium-sized blenny growing to about 30 centimetres (12 in),[1] part of the large family of blennies that live on the seabed of rocky areas in shallow water (down to 20 metres or 66 feet). The tompot blenny is found on the northern, western and southern coasts of Great Britain and is unusual on the east coast, although it has been seen on wrecks off the North Norfolk coast.[1][2] The species is also present in mainland Portugal, in the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmora, and around the Azores and Madeira.[3][4] The fish are very inquisitive and are often seen by scuba divers.[5]

Description

Tompots are usually a deep brown/orange, and are distinguished by a pair of lappets (tentacles) above the eyes and seven or more darker stripes along the body.[1] It feeds on sea anemones[5] or crustaceans.[1]


Pseudocapillaria bainae, parasite of Parablennius gattorugine. Caudal extremity of the male

Parasites

As most fish, tompots harbour several species of parasites, including the capillariid Nematode Pseudocapillaria bainae. This parasite has been found in the intestine of specimens caught off Italy and Montenegro.[6] Its biology is unknown.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 B. E. Picton & C. C. Morrow (2010). "Parablennius gattorugine (Linnaeus, 1758)". Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland. National Museums Northern Ireland. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  2. ↑ "New protection for marine wildlife". North Norfolk News. November 12, 2009. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  3. ↑ Tompot blenny at FishBase
  4. ↑ Black Sea Fishes Check List
  5. 1 2 "Tompot Blenny". British Marine Life Study Society. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  6. ↑ Justine, J.-L. & Radujković, B. M. (1988). Capillaria bainae n. sp. (Nematoda: Capillariinae) parasite du Poisson Parablennius gattorugine en mer Adriatique. Bulletin du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. Paris, 4° Série, 10 (A), 15-24.
  7. ↑ Moravec, F. (2001). Trichinelloid nematodes parasitic in cold-blooded vertebrates. Praha: Academia. ISBN 80-200-0805-5


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