David Lehrian
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Neoclinus blanchardi Girard, 1858
At around 30 cm, Neoclinus blanchardi is not only the largest of all blennies, but also a formidable hunter with a huge mouth containing two rows of thin, sharp teeth.
Careless bottom dwellers who approach the hiding place of this blenny are sucked in at lightning speed.
If the blenny itself is threatened by larger fish or rival conspecifics, it opens its mouth just as quickly and is often able to scare off its attackers.
When the fish has its mouth fully open, it is reminiscent of the alien from the movie Predator with Arnold Schwarzenegger; the mouth can be up to 12 times the size of the fish's entire body.
Usually found on exposed coasts, on sandy or hard mud bottoms at low tide, more rarely in bays. Usually found in objects, especially mollusc shells, mussel burrows and bottles.
Females lay eggs in mussel shells or under stones, males guard them.
Jumping guard
A jumping guard prevents (nocturnal) fish from jumping out.
Wrasses, blennies, hawkfishs and gobies jump out of an unprotected tank in fright if their night rest is disturbed, unfortunately these jumpers are found dried up in the morning on carpets, glass edges or later behind the tank.
https://www.korallenriff.de/en/article/1925_5_Jump_Protection_Solutions_for_Fish_in_the_Aquarium__5_Net_Covers.html
A small night light also helps, as it provides the fish with a means of orientation in the dark!
Synonymised names
Neoclinus satiricus Girard, 1859 · unaccepted
At around 30 cm, Neoclinus blanchardi is not only the largest of all blennies, but also a formidable hunter with a huge mouth containing two rows of thin, sharp teeth.
Careless bottom dwellers who approach the hiding place of this blenny are sucked in at lightning speed.
If the blenny itself is threatened by larger fish or rival conspecifics, it opens its mouth just as quickly and is often able to scare off its attackers.
When the fish has its mouth fully open, it is reminiscent of the alien from the movie Predator with Arnold Schwarzenegger; the mouth can be up to 12 times the size of the fish's entire body.
Usually found on exposed coasts, on sandy or hard mud bottoms at low tide, more rarely in bays. Usually found in objects, especially mollusc shells, mussel burrows and bottles.
Females lay eggs in mussel shells or under stones, males guard them.
Jumping guard
A jumping guard prevents (nocturnal) fish from jumping out.
Wrasses, blennies, hawkfishs and gobies jump out of an unprotected tank in fright if their night rest is disturbed, unfortunately these jumpers are found dried up in the morning on carpets, glass edges or later behind the tank.
https://www.korallenriff.de/en/article/1925_5_Jump_Protection_Solutions_for_Fish_in_the_Aquarium__5_Net_Covers.html
A small night light also helps, as it provides the fish with a means of orientation in the dark!
Synonymised names
Neoclinus satiricus Girard, 1859 · unaccepted
