Feather Blenny

Feather Blenny

Hypsoblennius hentzi

Size: to 5"

Habitat: bays, estuaries, protected coastal waters

Notes:

Blennies live on the bottom in oyster beds or mussel beds. If you find an old piece of pipe or a bottle in the river, look inside - you'll probably find a blenny.

Feather Blenny

Feather Blennies have branching "horns" over the eyes, called cirri.

Similar Striped Blenny has a more pointed profile with almost invisible cirri. I have not yet encountered the third and final species of blenny in our area - the Seaweed Blenny.

Feather Blenny
Feather Blenny
When I was cleaning his aquarium once, this little bugger swam up and bit my hand, and left a mark !!! They have very strong jaws.

Omega Protein with fishing partner Ocean Harvesters have a long history of collaborating with government agencies and non-profit organizations to offer retired vessels to artificial reef programs. The vessels that have been submerged act as a habitat for marine life, promoting biodiversity and creating recreational fishing and diving opportunities. The former vessels that have been sunk include the F/V Reedville off of the coast of Delaware in 2020, the F/V Barataria Bay off the coast of Mississippi in 2015, the F/V Great Wicomico in the Gulf of Mexico in 2009, and the F/V von Rosenberg off the coast of Mississippi in 2000.