Fish
Shanny
Lipophrys pholis · also called common blenny
As the tide drains out of a rock pool, a shanny wriggles under a curtain of damp weed and waits, perfectly content, for the sea to return.
Overview
The shanny, Lipophrys pholis, is a Least Concern blenny of rocky shores and rock pools along the north-eastern Atlantic coast. Its tolerance of life out of water, its homing ability, and its guarding fathers make it one of the commonest and most remarkable of British shore fish.
A fish with a sense of home
Experiments have shown that a shanny moved away from its own rock pool can find its way back, apparently using a memory of the layout of the shore.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and abundant.
Shanny: common questions
Why is the shanny called a blenny?
It belongs to the blenny family, whose members are small, scaleless, bottom-dwelling fish with blunt heads.
Can a shanny survive out of water?
Yes, it can survive for hours at low tide by hiding under damp weed and breathing through its skin.
How does a shanny find its way home?
It is known to return to its own rock pool after being moved, apparently using a memory of the shore.
Who guards the shanny's eggs?
The male guards eggs laid on the roof of a rock crevice, fanning them and keeping them clean until they hatch.