Family : Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies)
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Xestus sabretooth blenny
Fish Name : Petroscirtes xestus
Max size : 7.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 9710)
Environment : reef-associated
Climate : tropical; 16°N - 24°S
Global Importance : aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Line and Society Islands, north to Mariana Islands, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef; throughout Micronesia. Likely at Seychelles (Ref. 1623).
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 10-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16. Has a tall dorsal fin and small tufts below the chin (Ref. 48636). Resembles P. thepassii and P. variabilis but usually has fewer total dorsal fin elements (Ref. 37816).
Biology : Occurs in sandy areas of reef flats and shallow lagoons. Nests in empty mollusk shells. Small juveniles were found below the upside-down jelly Cassiopea that moves over sandy substrates and provided safe travel (Ref. 48636). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Nests in empty mollusk shells (Ref. 1602). Eggs are demersal and adhesive (Ref. 205)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator : Williams, Jeffrey T.
Main Ref : Myers, R.F.. 1991. (Ref. 1602)

India country information
Common Names : Dielahikkae
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses