Throat Spotted Blenny
Trambollo Pintado
(Trambollo Moetado)

Throat Spotted Blenny, Malacoctenus tetranemus: The Throat Spotted Blenny has an overall brown appearance with dark molting on the rear portions of its sides. It has a double row of dark green-brown bars on its sides, the largest of which is found at the tail base.

A key to identification of the Throat Spotted Blenny is that the head and lower body are covered with numerous dark spots. There is also a distinctive line that extends from the tip of the snout through the eye and into the forehead (as pictured below).

The Throat Spotted Blenny is a shallow water, diurnal, highly territorial predator that feeds mostly on bethic crustaceans including small crabs. It is found in the first 70 feet of the water column over and within weed covered rocky structure. It reaches a maximum length of 3 inches.

The Throat Spotted Blenny can be easily confused with several other blennies, too many to list except that all lack the prominent spots on the throat.

Distribution in Mexico fishing areas

In Mexican fishing waters the Throat Spotted Blenny has a limited distribution, being found along the Pacific side of Baja California peninsula south of Magdalena Bay, throughout the Sea of Cortez and along the coast of the Mexican mainland south to Guatemala. Its appears to be absent from around Mexico's oceanic islands.

Due to its small size and rarity the Throat Spotted Blenny is of limited interest to most.

The Throat Spotted Blenny is a member of the Labrisomidae Family whose members are known in Mexico as trambollos. They are highly secretive bottom dwellers that stay close to shelter. The labrisomids form the largest and most diverse group of blennioid fishes found in Mexican waters.

Labrisomidae are small fishes characterized by having prominent head cirri, well-developed scales, conical jaw teeth and drab colorations. There are approximately 100 species of Labrisomids known globally of which 23 species are found in Mexican waters. The Throat Spotted Blenny is of the Malacoctenus Genus of which there are eighteen known species of which seven are found in Mexican fishing areas.

Throat Spotted Blenny Fish Photo 1

Throat Spotted Blenny, Malacoctenus tetranemus: Collected from a tidal pool at El Tule, Km. 17, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, in 70-degree water, in February 2007. Size approximately 1 inch. Identification reconfirmed by H. C. Lin, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, La Jolla, Calif. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.

Mexico Fishing Home Page < Fish Photo List < Throat Spotted Blenny

Copyright ©