Ryan Photographic - Chaenopsidae - Tube-blennies, pike-blennies and flag-blennies

Family Chaenopsidae - Tube blennies, pike blennies and flag blennies

Fishbase lists 9 genera and 56 species in the family Chaenopsidae. Most family members are small, the largest, the sarcastic fringehead, reaches 30 cm (12 inches to the average American). The family is found on North, South and Central American coasts.

Some species are highly territorial - the sarcastic fringehead (why is it sarcastic anyway?) indulges in apparently ferocious battles in which rivals rush at each other with their flattened lips extended to the sides. While these tussles look dangerous not much damage seems to ensue - the loser beats a hasty retreat.

In other species such as the Gulf signal blenny, males signal to females by darting out of their burrows and extending their magnificent dorsal fin.

Most members of the family are small and they all lack scales. The name tube blenny stems from their use of abandoned invertebrate burrows as homes.

They apparently mostly eat crustaceans.

Acanthemblemaria crockeri Browncheek blenny

FISH 6853 Male Acanthemblemaria crockeri Browncheek blenny, near Loreto, Sea of Cortez, Baja California Sur.

FISH 6008 Female Acanthemblemaria crockeri Browncheek blenny (yawning?), near Loreto, Sea of Cortez, Baja California Sur.

Chaenopsis species

FISH 5225 Unidentified tube blenny, Chaenopsis species, in tube. Near Loreto, Sea of Cortez, Baja California Sur.

FISH 6580 Tube blenny, Chaenopsis species in tube, near Loreto, Sea of Cortez, Baja California Sur.

FISH 5657 Tube blenny, Chaenopsis species, possibly alepidota, in tube, near Loreto, Sea of Cortez, Baja California Sur.

Emblemania hypacanthus Gulf signal blenny

FISH 5761 Emblemania hypacanthus Gulf signal blenny outside burrow, near Loreto, Sea of Cortez, Baja California Sur.

FISH 5830 Emblemania hypacanthus Gulf signal blenny surveying the surroundings. Near Loreto, Sea of Cortez, Baja California Sur.

FISH 5854 Emblemania hypacanthus male Gulf signal blenny displaying. Lateral view. Near Loreto, Sea of Cortez, Baja California Sur.

FISH 5845 Emblemania hypacanthus Gulf signal blenny displaying. Near Loreto, Sea of Cortez, Baja California Sur.

FISH 5869 Emblemania hypacanthus Gulf signal blenny displaying,, three quarter view. Near Loreto, Sea of Cortez, Baja California Sur.

FISH 5882 Emblemania hypacanthus Gulf signal blenny displaying, closeup of head. Near Loreto, Sea of Cortez, Baja California Sur.

FISH 3234 Emblemariopsis bahamensis, Blackhead blenny, female Glover's Reef, Belize.

FISH 3245 Emblemariopsis bahamensis, Blackhead blenny, female Glover's Reef, Belize.

FISH 3246 Emblemariopsis bahamensis, Blackhead blenny, female Glover's Reef, Belize.

FISH 3248 Emblemariopsis bahamensis, Blackhead blenny, female Glover's Reef, Belize.

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