Fishgod Blenny
Trambollo Dorado
(Malacoctenus ebisui)

Fishgod Blenny, Malacoctenus ebisui: The Fishgod Blenny has an overall brown appearance with dark molting on its sides. It is characterized by having 20 dorsal fin spines, 11 dorsal fin rays, 19 anal fin rays, and 14 pectoral fin rays.

The Fishgod Blenny has dark vertical bars on the sides and a horizontal mid-flank color change. Males are red-brown in color with greenish bellies and covered with small white spots. Females are brown above the mid-flank and yellow below with large white spots.

The Fishgod Blenny has a pointed snout and protruding eyes. There is a characteristic brown circle with five spokes with a cream colored center just in front of the pectoral fin origin (as pictured below).

This fish species is a shallow water, diurnal (daytime), highly territorial predator that feeds mostly on bethic crustaceans including small crabs. It is found in the first 30 feet of the water column over and within weed-covered rocky structure. It reaches a maximum length of 3 inches.

It can be easily confused with several other (too many to list) blennies.

Distribution in Mexico fishing areas

In Mexican fishing waters the Fishgod Blenny has a limited distribution being found south of Guerrero Negro along the Pacific side of Baja California and along the coast of the Mexican mainland south of Acapulco. It is absent from the Sea of Cortez and from around the Mexican oceanic islands. Due to its size and rarity the Fishgod Blenny is of limited interest to most.

The Fishgod Blenny is a member of the Labrisomidae Family whose members are known in Mexico as trambollos. The labrisomids form the largest and most diverse group of blennioid fishes found in Mexican waters. They are small fishes characterized by having prominent head cirri, well-developed scales, conical jaw teeth and drab colorations. They are highly secretive bottom dwellers that stay close to shelter. At present there are approximately 100 species of Labrisomids known globally of which 23 species are found in Mexican waters. The Fishgod Blenny is of the Malacoctenus Genus of which there are eighteen known species of which seven are found in Mexican waters.

Fishgod Blenny fish picture

Fishgod Blenny, Malacoctenus ebisui: Male. Collected from an El Tule, Km. 17, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, tidal pool at mid-afternoon, during fishing in 70-degree water, in January 2007. Size approximately 1 inch. Fish identification courtesy of H.J. Walker, Jr., Scripps Institute of Oceanography, La Jolla, Calif. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.

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