Description: A fish with typical 'blenny' appearance - slim with a pair of branched head tentacles. The overall colouration is red, usually a pattern of bright red and darker red markings (some of which may be edged in blue) over a background of pale red or white. There are two pale bars radiating below each eye, separated by a darker band of colour. The pale bars occasionally have blue margins, and one extends over the edge of the fish's lip. Some fish have a large blue circle at the front of their dorsal fin, which is sometimes edged with yellow. It is thought that this may indicate a breeding male. Breeding males may also be particuarly bright red, juveniles may have a duller colouration.

Habitat: Exposed rocky habitats with crevices, recorded from depths of around 5 m to around 30 m.

Distribution: Originally confused with Tompot blenny Parablennius gattorugine, they seem to have been present in Britain and Ireland for 20-30 years. They have now been recorded all around Britain and Ireland, except for east coasts.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Parablennius gattorugine, which has a duller colouration and does not have the two pale bars underneath the eye.

Key Identification Features:

• Red colouration, brighter in breeding males.
• Two pale bars radiating below the eye, separated by a darker band of colour.
• Some fish have a blue circle (occasionally edged in yellow) at the front of the dorsal fin. Believed to indicate a breeding male.

Distribution Map from NBN: Parablennius ruber at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Parablennius ruber at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Parablennius ruber

WoRMS: Parablennius ruber at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Parablennius ruber (Valenciennes, 1836). AphiaID: 126774.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Chordata; Vertebrata; Gnathostomata; Osteichthyes; Actinopterygii; Actinopteri; Teleostei; Blenniiformes; Blenniidae; Salariinae; Parablennius