Pholis gunnellus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Butterfish

Pholis gunnellus

Description: The butterfish has a long, slender, eel-like body which is flattened from side to side. It has a very slippery skin and is difficult to pick up, hence its common name. The coloration is usually yellowish-brown with darker brown mottling. Like yarrell's blenny (Chirolophis ascani) there is a dark bar which runs from beneath the eye to the outer edge of the mouth. The most characteristic feature of the butterfish is a row of 9-15 black spots, each surrounded by a white ring, along the base of the dorsal fin. Adult fish are between 17-25cm in length.

Habitat: The butterfish is common beneath boulders and seaweeds on the low shore and also sublittorally in a wide range of habitats. It frequently hides amongst seaweed or in crevices in rock. It feeds mainly on small crustaceans and worms.

Distribution: This species is common and widespread all around Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Eels, some blennies and rocklings are a similar shape, however only the butterfish has a row of black spots surrounded by white circles at the base of the dorsal fin.

Key Identification Features:

• Long, slippery, eel-like body
• Row of black spots, each surrounded by a white circle along the base of the dorsal fin

Distribution Map: NBN map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

WoRMS: Species record : World Register of Marine Species.

iNaturalist: Species account : iNaturalist World Species Observations database