WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Imspringer

Istiblennius bellus

Also known as: Beautiful Rockskipper, Coral Blenny, Dusky Blenny, Reef Blenny, Rock Blenny, Rockskipper

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2026
Adult
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01

Overview

Found singly skipping from rockpool to rockpool, over very shallow surge zones of intertidal flats and rocky coastal shores rich in algae growth.

Combtooth Blennies are the largest family of blennies, found in both tropical and subtropical waters and freshwater habitats, as the name suggests they have comb like teeth lining their jaws.
Reef and rock blennies are usually territorial and have their own areas of rock pools which they skip and jump over, scraping algae from the surface of dead corals. Some male Blennies have small harems of arguing females.
Males and females often have different colouring and features.

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How to identify

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
LIVES IN

Found singly skipping from rockpool to rockpool, over very shallow surge zones of intertidal flats and rocky coastal shores rich in algae growth.

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Adult photos 0

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderBlenniiformes
    5. familyBlenniidae
    6. genusIstiblennius
    7. speciesIstiblennius bellus (Günther, 1861)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Combtooth Blennies (Blenniidae)