Peacock Blenny (Salaria pavo)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Salaria ("salt") pavo ("peacock")

Adult Peacock Blenny (Salaria pavo) at Syracuse, Sciily, Italy - May 2018

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: ?  /  Length: 13cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small blenny of the Mediterranean which since the construction of the Suez Canal has also expanded into the Red Sea. They have a reproductive system where there are two forms of male; "Bourgeois males" build and guard nests while "sneaker males" mimic females to be able to approach these nests and fertilise females without being driven off by the Bourgeois.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Blenniiformes
Family: Blenniidae
Genus: Salaria
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations -

ITALY 

A common resident

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Seen from Capo Murro di Porco  

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Shanny (Lipophrys pholis)

OTHER NAMES: Smooth Blenny, Common Blenny
Latin Etymology: Lipophrys ("absense of eyebrows") pholis ("scaled")

Two Adult Shanny (Lipophrys pholis) at Trevose Head, Cornwall - July 2019

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: up to 16cm 
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

If you have ever been rockpooling in the UK, you have probably seen this species.  Found along the European coast of the Atlantic, this species is a specialist at surviving in rockpools where they shelter under seaweed and rocks.  They have a favoured pool and will endeavour to return to it at the next high tide should they end up in another at low tide.

Related Species:
Order: Blenniiformes
Family: Blenniidae
Genus: Lipophrys
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident of rockpools.

 - Common in the pools at various beaches around Trevose Head

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .