Animal Species:Yellow Sabretooth Blenny, Petroscirtes fallax Smith-Vaniz, 1976

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

Yellow Sabretooth Blenny guarding its eggs

Yellow Sabretooth Blenny guarding its eggs
David and Leanne Atkinson © David and Leanne Atkinson

Alternative Name/s

Deceiver Fangblenny, Reef Sabretooth Blenny, Yellow Sabre-tooth, Yellow-lined Sabretooth Blenny

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.

Size range

The species grows to 10 cm in length.

Similar Species

The species may be a mimic of the venomous Lined Fangblenny Meiacanthus lineatus.

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.

Petroscirtes fallax

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Yellow Sabretooth Blenny specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:
fallax
Genus:
Petroscirtes
Family:
Blenniidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

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.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Yellow Sabretooth Blenny, Petroscirtes fallax, Blenniidae, white, black, yellow, 'normal fish', 10 cm - 30 cm, stipes or bands, coral reef, marine, adult, yellow tail,