Zaca Blenny
Trambollo Aletamarilla
(Malacoctenus zacae)

Zaca Blenny, Malacoctenus zacae: The Zaca Blenny was named for one of the world's finest yachts, the Zaca which is surrounded by extensive myths and legends. In 1946 actor Errol Flynn took the Zaca on a scientific expedition to the Sea of Cortez and coastal Mexican waters and the crew included Carl Hubbs, the then curator of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography fish collection. The trip ended up as a fiasco as all hands, including crew, jumped ship in Acapulco. The Zaca is featured in the movie "The Lady from Shanghai" starting Orson Wells and Rita Hayworth and is currently moored in Monte Carlo.

The Zaca Blenny is a recently discovered member of the Labrisomids Family which are known in Mexico as Trambollos. The Labrisomids form the largest and most diverse group of blennioid fishes found in Mexican waters. There are approximately 100 species known globally of which 23 species are found in Mexican waters. They are characterized by having prominent head cirri, conical jaw teeth, well-developed scales and drab coloration. They are highly secretive bottom dwellers that stay close to shelter.

The Zaca Blenny has dark molting and is characterized by having six dark marks on its sides, a central stripe along the flank, a yellow belly, and yellow pectoral fins. It has a slender head with a pointed snout and a pair of heavily branched cirri on top of the head. A dark spot at the base of the pectoral fin, found in many similar blennies, is absent. The Zaca Blenny also has a significant notch between the dorsal fin spines and the dorsal fin rays.

The Zaca Blenny is a shallow water, diurnal, highly territorial predator that feeds mostly on benthic crustaceans including small crabs. It can be easily confused with the Fish God Blenny, Malacoctenus ebisui (small white spots covering body), the Glossy Blenny, Malacoctenus zonifer (throat and belly covered with dark spots), the Margarita Blenny, Malacoctenus margaritae (body covered with numerous dark blotches; white belly), and the Redside Blenny, Malacoctenus hubbsi (flank with narrow stripes).

Distribution in Mexico fishing areas

The Zaca Blenny reaches a maximum length of 2.5 inches and is found in the first 30 feet of the water column within weed covered rocky structure. In Mexican fishing waters it is found between La Paz and Cabo San Lucas on the Baja California Sea of Cortez coast and along the coast of mainland Mexico south of Acapulco. Due to its size the Zaca Blenny is of limited interest.

Zaca Blenny

Zaca Blenny, Malacoctenus zacae: Collected from a tidal pool in January 2007, in 72-degree water, at Km. 17, El Tule, near San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Size approximately 1 cm. Fish identification courtesy of H.J. Walker, Jr., Scripps Institute of Oceanography, La Jolla, Calif. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.

Mexico Fishing Home Page < Fish Photo List < Zaca Blenny

Copyright ©