Tompot Blennies and Intruders
Male tompot blennies (Parablennius gattorugine) vigorously defend their home crevices and the eggs they are guarding against unwelcome visitors.
Photograph 1 of 8
Intruders to be kept away include other male tompots…
Photograph 2 of 8
…and crustaceans such as this edible crab.
Photograph 3 of 8
This male tompot had returned home to be confronted by the claws of a velvet swimming crab. He was undeterred and…
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…pushed past the crab into the crevice,…
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…waited for the right moment,…
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…then launched a biting attack on the crab’s rear.
Photograph 7 of 8
Some tompots are bold even with divers…
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…but a very wary approach is taken with topknots. This male tompot blenny (with his female visitor on the right) is cautiously watching one of the predatory flatfish that has approached the front of his crevice. Topknots probably eat young blennies.
See also photographs 3 to 6 on goldsinny cleaning page.