Reticulated Fangblenny, Meiacanthus reticulatus Smith-Vaniz 1976


A Reticulate Fangblenny, Meiacanthus reticulatus, in the Coral Sea off Queensland, Australia. Source: http://www.shutterstock.com/. License: All rights reserved

Summary:
A pale greyish-blue to greyish-brown fangblenny covered in dark brown spots, with a narrow dark brown stripe from the upper rear corner of the eye to below the anterior third of the dorsal fin, dark brown to blackish dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins, and a pale caudal fin with dark upper and lower margins. Adults have the outer caudal-fin rays produced into filaments.

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2021, Meiacanthus reticulatus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 19 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1077

Reticulated Fangblenny, Meiacanthus reticulatus Smith-Vaniz 1976

More Info


Distribution

Known only from Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea off Queensland; also Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean. Elsewhere the species occurs in Papua New Guinea. Inhabits sheltered reef lagoons.

Features

Dorsal fin V, 26; Anal fin II, 17; Pectoral fin 14; Pelvic fin I, 3; Caudal fin (segmented rays) 11.
Outer lobes of caudal fin filamentous in adults of both sexes; body depth about 4.4-4.8 in SL.

Species Citation

Meiacanthus (Meiacanthus) reticulatus Smith-Vaniz,  1976, Monogr. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 19: 106. Type locality: Egum Atoll, Solomon Sea.

Author

Bray, D.J. 2021

Reticulated Fangblenny, Meiacanthus reticulatus Smith-Vaniz 1976

References


Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp.

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 reticulatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T48342207A48373163. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T48342207A48373163.en. Downloaded on 14 January 2016

Smith-Vaniz, W.F. 1976. The saber-toothed blennies, tribe Nemophini (Pisces : Blenniidae). Monographs of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 19: 1-196 figs 1-179

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

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37408097

Conservation:IUCN Data Deficient

Danger:Venomous fangs

Depth:5-15 m

Habitat:Reef associated

Max Size:11 cm TL

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Species Maps

CAAB distribution map