Istiblennius meleagris

Size range: 5-15 cm

Depth range: 0 - 2 m

Habitat:

• Hard - Intertidal zone, rocky shores and tide-pools

Water column position:

• Benthic

Colors & patterns:

• Beige-dusky, with 7-8 dark vertical paired bands, semi-broken

• Numerous small pale blue spots scattered along the body sides

• Dorsal fin deeply notched in the middle

• Tentacle above the eyes highly complexed, with medial and lateral branches

• Male with fleshy blade-like crest dorsally on the head

Behavior:

• Cryptic - caves/crevices/overhangs

• Diurnal

• Approach: bald

Schooling characteristics:

• Solitary

• Small groups

Feeding characteristic: Herbivorous - primarily feeding on algae and seaweeds

Exotic