Snake Blenny

Elongated, eel-like fish with a pointed caudal fin. A single dorsal fin extends almost throughout the entire length of the body. The anal fin covers about two-thirds of the total length. Pale brown dorsally, becoming bluish on the sides, and greenish-yellow ventrally. There are numerous irregular brown patches on the body (Ref. 35388).

Lives in Y-shaped tubes in the mud in 50-200 m depth (Ref.35388). Benthic (Ref. 58426). Feeds on small crustaceans, mollusks, brittle stars and worms (Ref. 5204). Preyed upon by cod, pollock, small starfish and molluscs. Parasite of the species is known to be a copepod, Haemobaphes cyclopterina found on the gills (Ref. 5951).

A benthic species (Ref. 58426), living in Y-shaped tubes in the mud in 50-200 m depth (Ref. 35388). The burrows are believed to be used for parental care of the eggs (Ref. 80819) . Feeds on small crustaceans, mollusks, brittle stars and worms (Ref. 5204). Matures at 3 years with about 20 cm length. Spawning takes place in December - January, 1,000 eggs are laid on the sea floor, in deep water (Ref. 35388). Isolated population in the Baltic Sea is probably a relict from the last ice age (Ref. 35388) that reached the Baltic Sea during the early saltwater stage of the sea (Ref. 82152; 82153).

fisheries: of no interest