Two inquisitive shannies, showing their typical colouration on barnacle-encrusted rocks
If you move slowly when snorkelling or diving around Shannies and put a hand out gently onto a rock, you can sometimes be rewarded by an approach and close-up examination from one or two of the boldest members of the‘ gang’ and they may even try a tentative nip. The largest Shannies are best avoided for this, bearing in mind that their teeth and jaws are capable of dealing with whole barnacles, not just their limbs.
An aspect of shanny behaviour that I have only recently appreciated is the speed with which they can change colour to match their background. They tend to be very pale when on barnacle-covered rocks, but may quickly turn much darker as they move off among seaweed. I find capturing the change photographically a different matter, because they obviously make the most dramatic changes when they are very keen to avoid being seen! A longer term and well-known colour change is exhibited by males who go very dark,( sometimes almost black) when they are courting and, in typical blenny fashion, guarding eggs laid by visiting females. �
Trio of sociable shannies on barnacle-covered jetty steps, just a few cm under water
Paul’ s photos and video clips capturing UK marine life stories are on Instagram @ paulnaylormarinephoto
A breeding male shanny, almost black, guarding eggs
Shanny on pale rock and … … less than a minute later, getting darker as it moved to a shadier spot
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