Yellow Sabretooth Blenny, Petroscirtes fallax Smith-Vaniz, 1976

Scientific name: Petroscirtes fallax
Alternative name/s:
Deceiver Fangblenny, Reef Sabretooth Blenny, Yellow Sabre-tooth, Yellow-lined Sabretooth Blenny
Similar species:
The species may be a mimic of the venomous Lined Fangblenny Meiacanthus lineatus.
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    18/12/18
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Yellow Sabretooth Blenny Click to enlarge image
A Yellow Sabretooth Blenny at a depth of 4 m, Bowen, Queensland, 23 November 2012. Image: Phil Mercurio
© Phil Mercurio

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Petroscirtes
    Species
    fallax
    Family
    Blenniidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 10 cm in length.

Introduction

The Yellow Sabretooth Blenny has an elongate body and a blunt downward-pointing snout. The species is endemic to Australia.

Identification

The Yellow Sabretooth Blenny has an elongate body and a blunt downward-pointing snout. It has a single long-based dorsal fin. The mouth can be opened very wide to expose a pair of large curved canines at the front of the lower jaw. The species is yellow above and white below. There are three dark stripes on the head and body.

Distribution

The Yellow Sabretooth Blenny is endemic to Australia. It occurs in coral reefs and sheltered coastal bays and estuaries from northern Queensland to southern New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

References

  1. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  5. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.