Family : Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies)
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Striped poison-fang blenny mimic
Fish Name : Petroscirtes breviceps
Max size : 11.0 cm SL (male/unsexed; Ref. 1602)
Environment : reef-associated; oceanodromous ; depth range - 10 m
Climate : tropical; 22 - 28°C; 30°N - 30°S
Global Importance : aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Papua New Guinea, north to southern Japan, south to New Caledonia.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 10-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-21; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 17-21. Dark, broad stripe from snout through eye to caudal fin; stripe may be broken into segments (Ref. 4404). Highly variable in color and mimics Meiacanthus species (Ref. 48636).
Biology : Found in coastal reefs and estuaries to depths of about 10 m (Ref. 48636). Occur in sandy areas among clumps of Sargassum or other seaweeds, feeding on small crustaceans, diatoms, and perhaps other plant material associated with such clumps. They use their fangs defensively and will not hesitate to bite if handled. Mimic of Meiacanthus grammistes, which like all species of that genus possesses a pair of large grooved fangs in the lower jaw with associated venom glands. These bites are used defensively and thus species of that genus are avoided by predators. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Males uses shells but also ring-top cans for nesting (Ref. 48636). Eggs are demersal and adhesive (Ref. 205)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : traumatogenic , Myers, R.F.. 1991
Coordinator : Williams, Jeffrey T.
Main Ref : Myers, R.F.. 1991. (Ref. 1602)

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