Depth
Parablennius · Bony Fish

Rusty blenny

Parablennius sanguinolentus

0-40m
Depth Range
Variable
Max Size
Mediterranean
Distribution
0-40m
Depth Range
Variable
Max Size
Reef & Open
Habitat
Carnivore
Diet
Solitary
Social
LC
IUCN Status
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Genus Parablennius
Species sanguinolentus

Bony Fish

Identification & Biology

  • IdentificationMedium-sized blenny with a rounded head and short, branched orbital tentacles. Rusty brown to olive body with irregular darker mottling and a faint pattern of bars.
  • SizeUp to 20 cm total length, commonly 8 to 13 cm.
  • Social HabitSolitary and territorial. Males guard nest holes.
  • HabitatRocky intertidal and shallow subtidal zones. Found in holes, crevices, and among boulders.
  • Depth0 to 15 m, predominantly intertidal to 5 m.
  • Feeds OnAlgae and small invertebrates scraped from rock surfaces.
  • DistributionMediterranean Sea and adjacent Atlantic coast from Portugal to Morocco.
  • DescriptionA robust, reddish-brown blenny of the shallow rocky zone. Named for its rusty colouration, it is common on breakwaters and harbour walls. It occupies larger holes than many other blennies and is one of the bigger species likely to be seen in the intertidal zone.

Range

Habitat & Distribution

Found across the Mediterranean, inhabiting reef & open environments. Active from the surface down to 40m depth.

Where Malta divers have spotted this species

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Sightings are logged by divers using our What Did You See? dive-log tool. View the full live sightings map.

Detail

Preferred Environment

Reef & Open habitats, typically at depths of 0-40m. Most commonly encountered by divers at the shallower end of its range.

Encounter Tips

Best approached slowly and calmly. Avoid casting shadows directly over the animal. Neutral buoyancy and patience increase encounter success significantly.

Rusty blenny species card

Biology

Behaviour & Diet

Feeding Strategy

Omnivorous, grazing on algae, small invertebrates and organic detritus scraped from rock surfaces.

Omnivore

Reproduction

Males occupy holes in rock and court passing females. Eggs are deposited inside the cavity and guarded by the male.

Egg guarder

Behaviour & Defence

Wedges its body tightly into rock holes, making extraction extremely difficult for predators. Cryptic rusty-brown colouration matches the substrate.

Crevice dweller

Dive with diveshack

Where to Encounter in Malta

The following dive sites offer strong habitat match for Parablennius sanguinolentus. All are accessible on a guided dive with diveshack.

5-30m
North Malta

Cirkewwa

Rocky reef with caves, arches and ledges hosting a rich diversity of reef species.

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5-50m
Gozo

Blue Hole

One of the Med's most famous reef dive sites. Rocky walls and archways covered in life.

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18-36m
South Malta

Um El Faroud

The wreck lies on a sandy bottom surrounded by rocky reef -- a diverse habitat attracting reef species.

View dive site ›
IUCN Red List Least Concern

Conservation Status

This species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Mediterranean populations face ongoing pressure from fishing activity, habitat degradation, and climate-driven changes to prey availability.

Source: iNaturalist Guide #888
by Lesley Clements (CC BY-SA)
diveshack Mediterranean Marine Life guide