Family : Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies)
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Bluestriped fangblenny
Fish Name : Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos
Max size : 12.0 cm SL (male/unsexed; Ref. 559)
Environment : reef-associated ; depth range 1 - 40 m
Climate : tropical; 30°N - 30°S
Global Importance : aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Knysna, South Africa (Ref. 4404) and east to the Line, Marquesan and Society islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island. Replaced by Plagiotremus ewaensis in the Hawaiian Islands (Ref. 37816).
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 10-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 31-37; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 29-33. Adults variable in color, ranging from black to yellow; 2 blue stripes on body (Ref. 4404, 48636).
Biology : Inhabit clear, coral-rich areas of lagoon and seaward reefs (Ref. 1602). Hide in deserted worm tubes or other small holes when alarmed (Ref. 1602, 48636). Feed on the skin, mucus and sometimes scales of other fishes by quick attacks. Juveniles mimic the cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus (Ref. 9710). According to Ref. 53299 they are facultative mimics that change their color: at cleaning stations they mimic the cleaner wrasse and attack unsuspecting customers; elsewhere they adopt an alternative color and striping pattern to conceal themselves among fish shoals from which they can strike at passing fish. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Eggs are demersal and adhesive (Ref. 205)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator : Williams, Jeffrey T.
Main Ref : Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene. 1990. (Ref. 2334)

India country information
Common Names : [ No common name ]
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses