Aidablennius sphynx

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Blenniiformes · Family: Blenniidae · Genus: Aidablennius.

Accepted name: Aidablennius sphynx · Authority: (Valenciennes, 1836) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 126760.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Aidablennius sphinx (Valenciennes, 1836); Blennius sphinx Valenciennes, 1836; Blennius sphynx Valenciennes, 1836.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=126760 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Aidablennius sphynx. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 8 cm · Habitat zone: demersal · Body shape: elongated · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Found in very shallow, rocky, littoral zone, exposed to sunlight and surf; on horizontal, algae-covered terraces. Feed on benthic invertebrates and algae (Ref. 5981). Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive (Ref. 205), and are attached to the substrate via a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal (Ref. 94114). Males guard eggs in burrows (Ref. 5981). Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters (Ref. 94114).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 25971) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Aidablennius-sphynx.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

2,397 georeferenced occurrence records for Aidablennius sphynx are published through GBIF from 26 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 124 distinct locations from a sample of 2,397 records, omitting 144 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Spain (907); France (475); Italy (313); Croatia (241); Greece (163).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2395596) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2395596&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=126760 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Aidablennius sphynx (Valenciennes, 1836) as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 185168) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/185168/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2395596) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2395596/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

In mating, the blennies form distinct pairs, and the females lay up to 7000 eggs in a sitting, which are then guarded in burrows by the males. Males are known to cannibalize dead eggs to prevent infection spread amongst the healthy eggs, although in smaller broods they have also been reported consuming living eggs. It is believed that this is due to limited feeding opportunities for the males during breeding, as a result of their restriction to the nests. FishBase considers the blennies to be of Low Vulnerability, with a reproductive doubling time of less than 15 months.

Source: Wikipedia: Sphinx blenny — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphinx_blenny (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.