MEIACANTHUS ATRODORSALIS - (GUNTHER, 1877)
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Blenniiformes (Order) > Blenniidae (Family) > Blenniinae (Subfamily) > Meiacanthus (Genus)
Blennie à bande noire, Eye-lash harptail-blenny, Eyelash fangblenny, Eyelash harp-tail, Forktail blenny, Lyretail blenny, Poison-fang blenny, Yellowtail fangblenny, Yellowtail poison-fang blenny, ôgon-nijiginpo,
Synonymes
Meiacanthus atrodorsalis atrodorsalis (Günther, 1877)
Petroscirtes atrodorsalis (Günther, 1877)
Petroscirtes herlihyi (Fowler, 1946)
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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25-28; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 15-18. Identified by the blue-edged diagonal black line from the eye and yellow dorsal fin or back. Adults have long filaments on the caudal fin tips; length without filaments. The species has an enormous curved, venomous fang on each side of the lower jar. The fangs, which are used for defence, are characteristic of the genus Meiacanthus. Max. length: 11.0 cm. Depth range: 1 - 30 m.
Etymology
Meiacanthus: from Greek, meion = less or lessen + from Greek, akantha = thorn. Referring to dorsal fin with only 4-8 spines, compared to 10-12 on the related Petroscirtes.
atrodorsalis: from Latin, atro = black and Latin, dorsalis = of the back. Referring to the dark submarginal stripe usually present in the dorsal fin.
Original description: Petroscirtes atrodorsalis Günther, 1877 - Type locality: Samoa.
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean, western Pacific: Indonesia east to Caroline Islands and Samoa, north Ryukyu Islands (Japan), south to northern Australia and New Caledonia.
Biology
Adults are found solitary or in pairs in lagoon and seaward reefs. A common species, often seen along slopes and drop-offs, adults sometimes in small groups. Feed on zooplankton and also on small benthic invertebrates. Inoffensive, but immune from predation. Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive, and are attached to the substrate via a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal. Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters. Threat to humans : Venomous.
Similar species
Ecsenius bicolor (Day, 1888) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here).
Meiacanthus oualanensis (Günther, 1880) - Reported from Western Pacific: Fiji.
Meiacanthus tongaensis (Smith-Vaniz, 1987) - Reported from Central Pacific: Tonga.
Plagiotremus laudandus (Whitley, 1961) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here).
Blennie à bande noire, Eye-lash harptail-blenny, Eyelash fangblenny, Eyelash harp-tail, Forktail blenny, Lyretail blenny, Poison-fang blenny, Yellowtail fangblenny, Yellowtail poison-fang blenny, ôgon-nijiginpo,
Synonymes
Meiacanthus atrodorsalis atrodorsalis (Günther, 1877)
Petroscirtes atrodorsalis (Günther, 1877)
Petroscirtes herlihyi (Fowler, 1946)
------------------------
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25-28; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 15-18. Identified by the blue-edged diagonal black line from the eye and yellow dorsal fin or back. Adults have long filaments on the caudal fin tips; length without filaments. The species has an enormous curved, venomous fang on each side of the lower jar. The fangs, which are used for defence, are characteristic of the genus Meiacanthus. Max. length: 11.0 cm. Depth range: 1 - 30 m.
Etymology
Meiacanthus: from Greek, meion = less or lessen + from Greek, akantha = thorn. Referring to dorsal fin with only 4-8 spines, compared to 10-12 on the related Petroscirtes.
atrodorsalis: from Latin, atro = black and Latin, dorsalis = of the back. Referring to the dark submarginal stripe usually present in the dorsal fin.
Original description: Petroscirtes atrodorsalis Günther, 1877 - Type locality: Samoa.
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean, western Pacific: Indonesia east to Caroline Islands and Samoa, north Ryukyu Islands (Japan), south to northern Australia and New Caledonia.
Biology
Adults are found solitary or in pairs in lagoon and seaward reefs. A common species, often seen along slopes and drop-offs, adults sometimes in small groups. Feed on zooplankton and also on small benthic invertebrates. Inoffensive, but immune from predation. Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive, and are attached to the substrate via a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal. Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters. Threat to humans : Venomous.
Similar species
Ecsenius bicolor (Day, 1888) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here).
Meiacanthus oualanensis (Günther, 1880) - Reported from Western Pacific: Fiji.
Meiacanthus tongaensis (Smith-Vaniz, 1987) - Reported from Central Pacific: Tonga.
Plagiotremus laudandus (Whitley, 1961) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here).