Sarcastic fringehead
| Sarcastic fringehead | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Blenniiformes |
| Family: | Chaenopsidae |
| Genus: | Neoclinus |
| Species: | N. blanchardi |
| Binomial name | |
| Neoclinus blanchardi Girard, 1858 | |
The sarcastic fringehead (Neoclinus blanchardi) is a small but hardy saltwater tube-blenny that possesses a large mouth and aggressive territorial behavior, for which it has been given its common name. The term 'fringehead' reflects the distinctive ruff of tissue surrounding the fish's neck. The specific name honors Dr. S. B. Blanchard of San Diego, California, who collected specimens of this blenny and passed them on to Charles Frédéric Girard, who described it.