WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
A yellow body and black head belong to the breeding male yellow blackfaced blenny (Tripterygion delaisi). Females and other males show brown to reddish shades crossed by broad dark bars, the last marking the tail base.
The body is slender and elongated, with a pointed snout. Three separate fins follow one another along the back, while a fine projection rises above each eye.
WHERE DOES IT LIVE?
It lives on rocky seabeds, often in shaded areas such as overhangs, cracks or cavity entrances. It is generally found at shallow and medium depths where it can hide easily.
WHAT DOES IT EAT?
The black-faced blenny may remain stationary while turning its eyes towards nearby surfaces. It seeks small invertebrates, especially crustaceans such as copepods. After detection, a slow approach reduces distance before a sudden strike, often over only a few centimetres. Movements between viewing positions are short too. Watching, moving slightly and seizing tiny prey give foraging a distinctive rhythm.
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- Advanced navigation between description, ecological context, observations and behaviour
- Interactive food chain to explore the species’ feeding relationships
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