288 



UNDERWATER GUIDE TO MARINE LIFE 



Sarcastic hlenny. 



^^^^^^^ 



Fig. 165. Rock eel. 



terrestrial in habits, sun-bathing on rocks or mud flats. All are alert, big-eyed, and 

 have the typical blenny stance, propped up on the slim ventrals, which are also 

 used in "walking." 



SARCASTIC blenny: Ptewgnathiis satiriciis 



Size: Up to 9 inches. 

 Distribution: Monterey Bay to San Diego. 



Identification: The large mouth caused by the extreme elongation of the 

 maxillary, or upper jawbone, identifies this odd blenny. 

 Habits: The habits are like those of other small blennies. 



ROCK EEL (gunnel) : PhoUs giinelliis 



Size: Up to 12 inches, but mostly much smaller. 



Distribution: Arctic south to Cape Cod, straggling to New Jersey. 



Identification: The long, eellike shape and the tail fin which is separate from 

 the dorsal and anal fins identify the various species of rock eels. The ventral fins 

 are extremely small. The color varies from greenish brown to red. 



Habits: These eellike blennies are tvpical of arctic and cold temperate 

 members of this family. This shape is adapted to a secretive life on rockv shores. 

 One of the authors found a very plentiful similar species among rocks and stones 

 in the tidal zone on southeastern Alaskan shores. Almost every stone that was 

 turned yielded one or more. Rock eels are exceptionally slippery and agile, 

 however, and are more difficult to catch than they would seem to be at first 

 sight. They feed mostly on small invertebrates and lay eggs in a cluster in their 

 rocky home. Breder (1948) states that one of the parents apparently coils itself 

 around the incubating epRS. 



Similar Species: There are several West Coast species found south to Cali- 

 fornia. Elongate, eellike blennies of several other kinds are also found in northern 

 waters, but very little is known about them. 



