Black-faced blenny Black-faced blenny The black-faced blenny ("Tripterygion delaisi") is a small benthic fish from the family Tripterygiidae (triplefin-blennies). It occurs at depths of -3 to -40 m and lives on the substrate under large rocks, cliffs or other overhangs. Like all triplefin-blennies, "T. delaisi" has three dorsal fins and can hence easily be distinguished from members of the families Blenniidae (1 dorsal fin) and Gobiidae (2 dorsal fins) that have a similar live-style and general appearance. It has a peaked head and short tentacles above the eyes.⁠ The common name yellow black-faced blenny derives from the colouration of territorial males during
Sphinx blenny mating, the blennies form distinct pairs, and the females lay up to 7000 eggs in a sitting, which are then guarded in burrows by the males. Males are known to cannibalize dead eggs to prevent infection spread amongst the healthy eggs, although in smaller broods they have also been reported consuming living eggs. It is believed that this is due to limited feeding opportunities for the males during breeding, as a result of their restriction to the nests. FishBase considers the blennies to be of Low Vulnerability, with a reproductive doubling time of less than 15 months. Sphinx blenny The