Teleostei (teleosts) >
Blenniiformes (Blennies) >
Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies) > Blenniinae
Etymology: Meiacanthus: Greek, meion = less = lessen + Greek, akantha = thorn (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Not a true eponym as this is after a character in Greek mythology; Procne (sometimes Progne – see below), a daughter of King Pandion of Athens. She was metamorphosed into a swallow. The name is used for species which have some ‘swallow-like’ attribute. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 16 m (Ref. 58018). Tropical
Pacific Ocean: apparently endemic to Tonga.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 54980)
Dorsal spines (total): 4 - 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25 - 26; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 15 - 16. Lunate caudal fin with elongated lobes in both sexes; upper half of body bluish black and lower half abruptly bluish white, posteriorly with few small black spots; dorsal fin basal half black with pale blue stripe composed of 1 spot per membrane broadly joined to the next ; outer half of fin bluish gray with pale thin blue margin and black submarginal line; caudal fin base and lobes black with pale blue upper and lower margins, centroposterior part of fin transparent with dusky rays; pectoral-fin axil without dark spot. Dorsal rays IV-V (rarely IV), 25-26; pectoral soft rays rarely 13; segmented caudal rays 11-12 (typically 11); lateral line present (Ref. 54980).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive (Ref. 205), and are attached to the substrate via a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal (Ref. 94114). Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters (Ref. 94114).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, distinct pairing (Ref. 205).
Smith-Vaniz, W.F., 1987. The saber-toothed blennies, tribe Nemophini (Pisces: Bleniidae): an update. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 139:1-52. (Ref. 7401)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2 (Global))
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
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