Western Jumping Blenny

Interesting Info

• The Western Jumping Blenny is a quirky little fish that can actually hop across rocks using its tail and fins!
• It’s found only in South Australia and across to Western Australia.
• They’re small, reaching about 7–9 cm (3–3.5 in) long—easy to miss unless you’re looking carefully.
• Their mottled brown-and-cream body blends perfectly with rocky shores, making them masters of camouflage.
• Western Jumping Blennies live right in the splash zone—where waves crash over rocks and tide pools stay wet.
• They’re amphibious in behaviour—spending time both in shallow water and out of it, hopping from rock to rock when pools dry up.
• Instead of swimming far, they wriggle and “jump” across slippery rocks to escape predators or reach the next pool.
• They eat tiny creatures living on rocks and algae, such as small crustaceans, worms, and little snails.
• Their big eyes give them excellent vision above and below the water’s surface.
• When threatened, they dive into crevices or stay perfectly still, blending into the rock patterns.
• They are a favourite for snorkellers exploring rocky shorelines, but you’ll often need patience to spot them!
• Western Jumping Blennies are part of the combtooth blenny family, known for their small size and lively personalities.
• Western Jumping Blennies are short-lived, usually surviving only 2–4 years in the wild.
• They grow quickly and can breed within their first year of life.