Panamic Fanged Blenny: Small, Scrappy, and Always Grazing

The Panamic fanged blenny is a small, big-headed reef fish you'll often see perched on a rock or darting between crevices, nibbling algae. It's feisty for its size and fiercely guards its little patch of reef. Here's how to spot one snorkeling near Jacó, plus five fun facts.

Panamic Fanged Blenny · Ophioblennius steindachneri

How to spot the panamic fanged blenny near Jacó

Look on and around algae-covered rocks in the shallows, especially where the surge washes over the reef. The fanged blenny tends to prop itself on its fins in the open, then dash into a hole the moment you drift too close. Watch for a small fish that seems to 'sit' on the rock rather than swim above it.

5 fun facts about the panamic fanged blenny

• Teeth like a comb. It has a row of fine, comb-like teeth it uses to scrape a thin film of algae off the rock — its main food all day long.
• Hidden fangs. Behind those grazing teeth sit a pair of larger fang-like canines, which it uses in disputes with rival blennies over prime real estate.
• A tiny landlord. Each blenny defends a small territory around its favorite hole and will flare its fins and chase off intruders many times its size.
• Built to perch. Its pelvic fins work like little feet, letting it rest and hop along the rocks instead of hovering in open water.
• A quick-change home. It shelters and nests in empty holes and crevices, and the male guards the eggs until they hatch.

The panamic fanged blenny is just one of many characters down there. See the whole cast in our Snorkel Jaco fish directory, or read real guest photos and reviews on the Snorkel Jaco reviews.