Depth
Parablennius · Bony Fish

Tentacled Blenny

Parablennius tentacularis

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
High
Sighting Likelihood
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Genus Parablennius
Species tentacularis

Bony Fish

Identification & Biology

  • IdentificationMedium-sized blenny with a robust body and a pair of elaborate, bushy, branched tentacles above the eyes. Olive-brown to dark brown body with faint darker bands. Head is blunt and rounded.
  • SizeUp to 15 cm total length, commonly 7 to 11 cm.
  • Social HabitSolitary and territorial. Males guard eggs in holes and crevices.
  • HabitatRocky reefs, boulder fields, and areas with suitable holes for shelter. Found from the shallows to moderate depths.
  • Depth1 to 30 m, most common between 3 and 15 m.
  • Feeds OnAlgae and small invertebrates from rock surfaces.
  • DistributionEastern Atlantic from the Bay of Biscay to Morocco, including the Mediterranean Sea.
  • DescriptionNamed for its elaborate, highly branched orbital tentacles, which give it a distinguished, whiskered appearance. The tentacled blenny is a common resident of rocky reefs and is one of the easier blennies to approach and photograph, as it often holds its position when a diver gets close.

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.

Tentacled Blenny species card

Biology

Behaviour & Diet

Feeding Strategy

Feeds on small crustaceans, worms and algae grazed from rock surfaces in the shallow subtidal and lower intertidal zones.

Omnivore

Reproduction

Males guard eggs deposited inside rock holes and empty invertebrate shells. Spawning occurs in spring and summer.

Egg guarder

Behaviour & Defence

Retreats deep into rock crevices when threatened. Ornate head tentacles break up the outline and aid in camouflage.

Crevice dweller

Dive with diveshack

Where to Encounter in Malta

The following dive sites offer strong habitat match for Parablennius tentacularis. 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.

View dive site ›
5-50m
Gozo

Blue Hole

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

View dive site ›
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