Lipophrys pholis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Shanny

Description: The shanny can easily be distinguished from other blennies in Britain and Ireland by its lack of any head tentacles. It has a large, rounded head and older fish also have a fleshy ridge on their foreheads. The dorsal fin has a conspicuous dip in it, separating the front half from the back half. They are usually yellowish-brown to greenish-brown in colour with darker blotches and there is a dark spot between the first and second dorsal fin rays. Adult fish can grow to 16cm long.

Habitat: It is mainly found in rockpools or beneath boulders on the mid and low shore and sublittorally amongst pier pilings, boulders and wrecks down to a depth of approximately 30m. It feeds on barnacles, small crabs and other crustaceans.

Distribution: The shanny is common and widespread all around the coasts of Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: This species is unlikely to be confused with other blennies since all the others have head tentacles.

Key Identification Features:

• No head tentacles
• Smooth, rounded forehead
• Dark spot between first and second dorsal fin rays

Distribution Map from BioMar data for Ireland - Google Earth map:  download this placemark (not got Google Earth installed?)

Distribution Map from NBN: JNCC MNCR Seasearch data - Grid map : Interactive map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.