Peacock Blenny

Mature males with well-developed head-crest and anal gland in the first two anal-fin rays. Sneaker males much smaller than nesting males and do not display male secondary sexual characters (Ref. 94108).

Males court by nodding and undulating movements and drive females to spawning place by biting and butting (Ref. 5981) though this event is rarely done by the males, more or less adopting a passive role in the courtship (Ref 94113). Additionally, males don't defend a territory around the nest (Ref. 94113) though they guard eggs from several females (Ref. 5981, 94113).

Occurs in the intertidal zone and shallow bottoms, on rocks or sand between pebbles and vegetation. Often in brackish waters down to 5 ppt. Inhabits crevices or piddock holes, males remain in cavities above water-level during low tide. Feeds on benthic invertebrates, mainly molluscs, also algae.

Adults occur in the intertidal zone and shallow bottoms, on rocks or sand between pebbles and vegetation (Ref. 5981). Often in brackish waters down to 5 ppt (Ref. 5981). Inhabit crevices or piddock holes, males remain in cavities above water-level during low tide (Ref. 5981). Feed on benthic invertebrates, mainly mollusks, also algae (Ref. 5981). Also ingest large amounts of aquatic insects and pupae (Ref. 94105). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Mature males adopt a passive role during courtship, rarely court females, do not defend nest territory, but provide parental care to eggs. Sneaker males assume a female-like behavior in order to approach the nests of nesting males and parasitically fertilize the eggs (Ref. 94113). Eggs are demersal and adhesive (Ref. 205). Has been reared in captivity (Ref. 35421).

fisheries: subsistence fisheries

Salaria pavo, the peacock blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny found in the eastern Atlantic coast from France to Morocco; also in the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and the eastern Adriatic Sea. This species has colonised the northern Red Sea by anti-Lessepsian migration through the Suez Canal. The peacock blenny reaches a length of 13 centimetres (5.1 in) TL.