Hairy blennies are the largest blennies in the Caribbean. They reach lengths of between 2″-6″. They typically are rather drab looking except at mating time. The front of the males body turns reddish and it has black vertical bars on the rear half. The male cleans the surface where the females deposits thousands of eggs that have a sticky substance on the exterior to stick to the substrate. The male nips at the female while she lays the eggs. Perhaps, the male is exciting her with the nips. I had the great fortune to witness this mating ritual in very shallow water at the Blue Heron Bridge at Phil Foster Park in Riviera Beach, Florida.
To view the video, click on the link or the photo below:
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