Aden Blenny

Antennablennius adenensis, commonly known as the Aden blenny, is a small, tropical marine fish native to the western 🌊 Indian Ocean, ranging from the 🌊 Red Sea to the 🌊 Persian Gulf and the coastal waters of 🇵🇰 Pakistan. This fish is typically found at shallow depths of 1 to 2 meters (approximately 3 to 6 feet) in marine environments.

The Aden blenny reaches a maximum length of about 5 centimeters (roughly 2 inches). It has a distinct gray coloration with eight purplish bars running along its body. Its cheeks are adorned with rows of bright dots. The dorsal fin of the Aden blenny is composed of 12 spines and between 17 to 19 soft rays, while the anal fin consists of 3 spines and 18 to 20 soft rays.

These fish are commonly associated with rocky bottoms. They reproduce through an oviparous process, meaning they lay eggs. The eggs are demersal, meaning they settle to the bottom, and they adhere to the substrate using a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal. After hatching, the larvae are planktonic and often inhabit shallow coastal waters.

The scientific name Antennablennius comes from the Latin word for sensory organ, referencing the small, horn-like appendages some fish have, combined with the Greek word for mucus, which is a characteristic of the skin of blennies.