Meiacanthus grammistes
Linespot Fangblenny
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Perciformes
Family
Blenniidae
Genus
Meiacanthus
Species
Meiacanthus grammistes
Colours
Distinguishing features
A small white fish with three black stripes running horizontally along the body, and a yellowish wash over the front half of the body. The fine black spots on the tail distinguish it from the closely related Meiacanthus lineatus. Found singly or in small groups swimming close to the bottom or hovering stationary above a coral.
Size
- Up to 11 cm (Standard length)
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Similar taxa
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Animalia:
Lined Blenny (species: Meiacanthus lineatus)
has no spots on tail or tail peduncle
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
Shallow reef tops in lagoonal areas.
Found in most reef habitats around the island not exposed to heavy wave action.
Behaviour
The Linespot Fangblenny possesses a venom gland, and this together with the long fangs, means most other fish avoid this species. There are many examples of other fishes mimicking the colouration of Fangblennies in order to take advantage of the warning colour scheme (see pictures in Randall 2005).
Web resources
References
- Caley, M.J. (1991). Mechanisms of coexistence in communities of coral-reef fishes, Ph.D. thesis, University of Sydney. LIRS catalog number 307.
- Caley, M.J. (1995). Community dynamics of tropical reef fishes: local patterns between latitudes, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 129: 7-18. LIRS catalog number 447.
- Caley, M.J. (1995). Reef fish community structure and dynamics: in interaction between local and larger-scale processes? Marine Ecology Progress Series, 129: 19-29. LIRS catalog number 448.
- View all references