About Ophioblennius steindachneri Jordan & Evermann, 1898
Ophioblennius steindachneri, commonly called the large-banded blenny, is darkly colored as a juvenile. As it matures, it develops brownish to olive coloration with lighter markings, plus a dark spot behind the eye. It also has several broad bands that start at the head and fade out behind the pectoral fins. This species is distributed in the eastern Pacific Ocean, ranging from the Gulf of California to Peru. Its distribution includes the Revillagigedo Islands, Cocos Island, Malpelo Island, and the Galápagos Islands. Adult large-banded blennies live primarily in the surge zone of exposed rocky headlands with steep slopes. They wedge themselves into crevices close to the shore in shallow water. This species is territorial, and individuals will dart out of their hiding spots to defend their territory. They feed during the day, grazing on algae and preying on sessile invertebrates. They use their comb-shaped incisor teeth to scrape food off rock surfaces. Like all blennies, Ophioblennius steindachneri is oviparous. It lays demersal eggs that stick to the substrate via a filamentous adhesive pad or pedestal. The species' larvae are planktonic, and are often recorded from shallow coastal waters.
