Madeira Canary Islands Azores – Fishes Dr. Peter Wirtz
Madeira Canary Islands Azores – Fishes Dr. Peter Wirtz
Madeira Canary Islands Azores – Fishes Dr. Peter Wirtz
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ocky shores. The small photo shows a transparent larva that has recently arrived from the plankton. Photos<br />
<strong>Peter</strong> <strong>Wirtz</strong>.<br />
Butterfly blenny (Blennius ocellaris)<br />
Up to 18 cm long. <strong>Azores</strong>. 10 <strong>–</strong> 450 m depth.<br />
The Butterfly blenny holds the depth record among the blennies in our area: it has been caught in more than<br />
400 m depth. Above 30 m depth it can only rarely be seen. The beautiful, high dorsal fin with its eye-spot, that<br />
can be raised to impress, has given the species its name. It mainly feeds on snails. Photo <strong>Peter</strong> <strong>Wirtz</strong>.<br />
124<br />
Gobies (Gobiidae)<br />
Goldspot goby (Gnatholepis thompsoni)<br />
Up to 15 cm long. <strong>Madeira</strong>, <strong>Canary</strong> <strong>Islands</strong>. 1 <strong>–</strong> 20 m depth.<br />
In contrast to blennies, gobies do have scales. Most species of gobies live on soft bottoms. The Goldspot goby<br />
is a tropical species that has extended its area of distribution in the last decades towards the north: The Cape<br />
Verde <strong>Islands</strong> used to be the northern limit for this species but several years ago it appeared at the <strong>Canary</strong><br />
<strong>Islands</strong> and multiplied there. A few years ago, it also appeared at <strong>Madeira</strong> and here, too, it is increasing in<br />
frequency. Probably, the species was able to extend its area of distribution because of Global Warming. The<br />
golden spot behind the gill cover has given the species its name. Photo Pedro Monteiro.<br />
Rock goby (Gobius paganellus)
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