Striped Blenny 399 



General Information: This fish is not abundant anywhere. 

 It frequently buries itself in the bottom with only its eyes 

 and lips showing. The Northern Stargazer is capable of 

 producing a shock by means of electric organs situated 

 just back of the eyes. Whether these electric organs are 

 used to capture food or for defense, or both, is not known. 

 Crustaceans and fish have been found in the stomachs of 

 this species. 

 Economic Importance: None. 



Striped Blenny 

 Chasmodes bosquianus (Lacepede) 



Color: Male: olive green with about 9 horizontal, narrow, 

 irregular blue lines converging backward. A broad deep 

 orange-yellow stripe through first dorsal fin. Female: dark 

 olive green with a network of narrow pale green lines and 

 several broad dark bars most distinct posteriorly. A dusky 

 spot at the base of the caudal fin in both sexes. 

 Distribution: Found from Florida to New York but rare 

 north of Maryland. 



Size: Reaches a length of about 4 inches. 

 General Information: The Striped Blenny is most common 

 close to shore in shoal water but has been taken down to 

 depths of 90 feet. It spawns in spring and summer. The 

 eggs are sticky when first laid and are frequently found 

 attached to shells. This fish feeds on small crustaceans, 

 small shellfish, and insect larvae. 

 Economic Importance: None. 



