The Jewelled Blenny (Salarias fasciatus) is a small tropical marine (saltwater) fish. It looks like a minute eel, but it is a rockskipper. It is often called the Lawnmower Blenny.

The Jewelled Blenny can change colour (camouflage itself) to blend into its surroundings. However, it is usually olve to brown, with dark bars and round or elongated white spots. It has no scales. It has small bright blue spots with dark outlines along the rear of its body. It has large high-set bulbous eyes. It has a continuous dorsal fin (back fin), which has 3-17 spines.

 

It measures about 14 centimetres (5.5 inches).

The Jewelled Blenny is native to east Africa and the Red Sea, as well as Australasia, from Samoa to the Islands of Micronesia. It prefers shallow reefs that have a lot of algae. It is a bottom-dwelling fish, and can be diurnal or nocturnal.

It is a detritivore, eating aquatic animal waste, as well as plant material, such as algae. It is a combtooth blenny, with comb-like teeth.

Females lay eggs in shells or under rock ledges. Males guard the nest of eggs until they hatch.

 

 

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM