Author: (Brünnich, 1768)
Parablennius gattorugine (Brünnich, 1768)
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Parablennius gattorugine (Linnaeus, 1758) (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: dorsal finrays XIII + 18-19; anal finrays II + 20; pectoral finrays 14; pelvic finrays I + 3. No canines in upper jaw. Colour: basic coloration brownish, 6-7 dark brown vertical bars on body. Spawning males chocolate-brown, with bulb glands on spiny anal finrays. Size: to 30 cm.
Habitat: crevices and holes in steep rocks from 3 to 32 m, also between vegetation or boulders. Young specimens in upper littoral between algae. Behaviour: mostly active at sunrise and sunset. Underwater 'flight' over long distances. Rivals attacked by mouth fighting. Spawning males having holes. Food: benthic invertebrates, including echinoids and ophiurids, also algae. Reproduction: March-May. Several females spawn in resident hole of male which guards the eggs.
Distribution: Mediterranean, Sea of Marmara and Atlantic coast from Ireland to Morocco.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. Eggs, etc. Emery, 1883: 411 | Padoa, 1956: 735-737, fig. 635-637, pl. 43 (fig. 13).
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.