Birthmark Fangblenny, Meiacanthus naevius Smith-Vaniz 1987


Birthmark Fangblenny, Meiacanthus naevius. Source: Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO. License: CC BY Attribution-Noncommercial

Summary:
A rare fang-blenny with three dark stripes along the head and body with the middle stripe running from the snout through the eye, above the pectoral-fin base, ending before a dark elongated dash on the caudal peduncle. Living colours of this species are unknown.
The Birthmark Fangblenny is known only from Rowley Shoals off north Western Australia. Species of Meiacanthus have grooved dentary canines and associated venom glands. They are unique among fishes in having highly specialized toxic buccal glands. 

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2021, Meiacanthus naevius in Fishes of Australia, accessed 19 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1075

Birthmark Fangblenny, Meiacanthus naevius Smith-Vaniz 1987

More Info


Distribution

Known only from Rowley Shoals, Western Australia. Inhabits coral reef lagoons at depths of 3-5 m.

Features

Dorsal fin IV, 26; Anal fin II, 15; Pectoral fin 12-13; Caudal fin segmented rays 11, procurrent rays 6+5; Vertebrae 34. 

Colour

Colours in life unknown. In preservative: Three dark stripes along the head and body: the uppermost stripe, which is indistinct on the head, follows the dorsal contour to the end of the dorsal fin and extends onto the lower part of the dorsal fin; the middle stripe runs from the snout through the eye, just above the pectoral-fin base and terminates before a dark elongated dash on the caudal peduncle; the lower stripe runs from the lower jaw, beneath the eye, through the lower part of the pectoral fin, ending before the caudal peduncle.

Feeding

Feeds on zooplankton in the water column.

Etymology

The specific name is from the Latin naevius (= birthmark) in reference to the conspicuous spot on the caudal peduncle.

Species Citation

Meiacanthus (Meiacanthus) naevius Smith-Vaniz 1987, Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 139: 20, figs 7d, 11. Type locality: Clerke Reef, 2 km south of Bedwell Island, 17°18'S, 119°20'E, Rowley Shoals, Western Australia.

Author

Bray, D.J. 2021

Resources

Atlas of Living Australia

Birthmark Fangblenny, Meiacanthus naevius Smith-Vaniz 1987

References


Smith-Vaniz, W.F. 1987. The saber-toothed blennies, tribe Nemophini (Pisces: Blenniidae): an update. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 139: 1-52 figs 1-29 https://www.jstor.org/stable/4064893

Smith-Vaniz, W.F. & Allen, G.R. 2011. Three new species of the fangblenny genus Meiacanthus from Indonesia, with color photographs and comments on other species (Teleostei: Blenniidae: Nemophini). Zootaxa 3046: 39-58

Smith-Vaniz, W. F., Satapoomin, U. &  Allen, G.R. 2001. Meiacanthus urostigma, a new fangblenny from the northeastern Indian Ocean, with discussion and examples of mimicry in species of Meiacanthus (Teleostei: Blenniidae: Nemophini). aqua, Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology 5(1): 25-43 See ref online

Williams, J.T. 2014. Meiacanthus naevius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T48342236A48358271. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T48342236A48358271.en. Downloaded on 25 May 2020.

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37408055

Conservation:IUCN Vulnerable

Danger:Venomous fangs

Depth:3-5 m

Habitat:Reef associated

Max Size:3.6 cm SL

Native:Endemic

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Species Maps

CAAB distribution map