Freshwater Blenny

This species is distinguished from its congeners in European inland waters by the following combination of characters: a broad diagonal band of tiny dots running from eye backward and downward; branched cirrus above eye; head length 25-31% SL; upper jaw with 16-24 teeth, lower jaw with 16-20; A II,16-19; D XII-XIII,16-17 (Ref. 59043).

Produces 200-300 eggs (Ref. 1672). Paternal care (Ref. 4342). Male cleans, fans and defends eggs until hatching. Several females spawn with one male, which may guard eggs at different stages of development. Eggs hatch in about a week (Ref.59043).

Dorsal spines (total): 12 - 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16 - 17; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 16 - 19; Vertebrae: 36

Occurs in rivers and brooks (Ref. 4342), with relatively shallow water as well as in low altitude lakes (Ref. 30578). Feeds on small benthic organisms.

Adults occur in rivers and brooks (Ref. 4342), in relatively shallow water as well as in low altitude lakes (Ref. 30578), on stone bottom; in streams, deepest and fastest microhabitats are preferred and sometimes coastal lagoons with low salinity (Ref. 59043). Reported from marine environment (Ref. 58342). A territorial species that lives up to 5 years (Ref. 59043). Adults feed on small benthic organisms, aquatic insects and pupae (Ref. 94105). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Females spawn for the first time at the end of the first year and spawning lasts up to 3 years but with most females dying at the end of the first spawning year. One female spawns up to 1,200 eggs (usually 200-300) in a single layer under a large stone; spawns several egg portions during the season. On the other hand, the males clean, fan and defend the eggs until hatching. Several females may spawn with one male, which may guard the eggs at different stages of development (Ref. 59043). Eggs are demersal and adhesive; eggs hatch in about a week (Ref. 205, 59043). Planktonic larvae until about 1.5 cm, are drifted to and remain in quiet pools or side arms of rivers (Ref. 59043). Populations are threatened due to pollution and water abstraction (Ref. 26100); most riverine populations affected by habitat alteration (especially siltation and alteration of stream morphology), and predation of exotic species. Presence of habitat suitable for the pelagic 'larval' stage downstream of spawning sites is a limiting factor; lacustrine population are apparently safer (Ref. 59043).

fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial

The freshwater blenny (Salariopsis fluviatilis) is a species of fish in the family Blenniidae. It is found in African rivers and brooks in Algeria and Morocco flowing to the Mediterranean Sea. In Europe it is widespread in the freshwaters of Albania, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Spain and Portugal, while in Asia it is in Turkey and Israel. This species reaches a length of 15 centimetres (5.9 in) TL. This taxon may be paraphyletic as the populations in Turkey and Israel are more genetically divergent from other populations of freshwater blenny than the Trichonis blenny, and the population in Kinneret Lake in Israel has been proposed as a new species.