The combtooth blennies Lipophrys trigloides is a species native to the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, where it lives in coastal waters rarely deeper than 3 meters. It prefers rocky regions where there is abundant algae covering the bottom and numerous crevices and small caves to shelter in. It is a species that is especially active at night, however, during the breeding season we can see it very active during the day.
The body of Lipophrys trigloides is elongated (up to 13 cm in length), slightly compressed on the sides (especially towards the end of the body), and has a rounded head. The mouth, located in a lower position with respect to the head, has thick lips which are never completely white as in other species of combtooth blennies, but have several spots of various colors. The eyes are located in the upper part of the head, and above them there are no supraocular tentacles. Between the eyes and the mouth, however, there are relatively well-developed tentacles in the nostrils. The dorsal fin has a distinct notch that is not complete and divides the dorsal fin into two portions. Both portions are approximately the same height. The first consists of 12 spines, while the second has between 16 and 17 soft rays. The anal fin is located opposite the second portion of the dorsal fin, and consists of 2 spines and 18 soft rays. The pectoral fins are more or less rounded and consist of 13 rays, while the pelvic fins are located in the jugular position and consist of a spine and 3 rays.
The coloration of Lipophrys trigloides is mainly based on a grayish olive green color that can be variable depending on the substrate they inhabit. At the intersection between the back and the base of the dorsal fin, we find a series of 5-6 vertical brown stripes. Likewise, the edge of the dorsal fin also has small dark spots. Two features of its livery that will help us to differentiate between combtooth blennies species are on the one hand the absence of an ocellus on the head just behind the eyes, and on the other hand the three vertical transverse stripes present on the caudal fin. The latter is a feature that will allow us to differentiate Lipophrys trigloides from the similar and close species Lipophrys Lipophrys pholis.
Being a territorial species, male specimens of Lipophrys trigloides will fiercely defend their territories against other males or other blennid species. They generally make upward head movements and fully deploy their dorsal fin. If the adversary does not cease in his attitude, a battle with their mouths can be initiated, and direct attacks with bites to the opponent.
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