Home · Chaenopsidae · Roughhead blenny
Roughhead blenny (Acanthemblemaria aspera) — Chaenopsidae

Roughhead blenny

Acanthemblemaria aspera
Family: Chaenopsidae
LC · Least Concern

The Roughhead blenny (Acanthemblemaria aspera) is a saltwater fish of the family Chaenopsidae that grows up to 4 cm.

Length
4 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The roughhead blenny is a small tube blenny (Chaenopsidae) from the western Atlantic and the Caribbean. The species grows to only a few centimetres and has an elongate little body with a granular, rough head, to which the name refers, and crest-like skin flaps. It almost always lives in empty tubes and holes of coral and calcareous worms, where it lies on the lookout with its head poking out and darts back when threatened. It feeds on amphipods and copepods carried by the current. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Roughhead blenny?

The Roughhead blenny has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Roughhead blenny live?

The Roughhead blenny lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Roughhead blenny get?

The Roughhead blenny grows to a maximum of about 4 cm.

Is the Roughhead blenny dangerous to humans?

No, the Roughhead blenny is harmless to humans.

Is the Roughhead blenny edible?

The Roughhead blenny is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Ruwkop-kokerslijmvis sourced
English name
Roughhead blenny verified
Scientific name
Acanthemblemaria aspera
Family
Chaenopsidae
Other names
Roughhead Blenny; Roughhead blenny verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
4.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Acanthemblemaria

More from the family Chaenopsidae

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