Variable sabretooth blenny
📖 Overview
Adults occur in seagrass beds of shallow lagoons. Also in Sargassum rafts during or immediately after wet season . Replaced by P. thepassi at Solomon Islands . They feed primarily on small crustaceans and occasionally on scales from fishes. Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive , and are attached to the substrate via a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal . Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters . This form was named by Bleeker (1852) as Petroscirtes bankanensis.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16 - 19; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 16 - 19. Sexually dimorphic: males are orange-brown while females are sea-green dorsally and lighter below. Similar to P. breviceps in shape but has a blotched, rather than lined pattern on the body. Some color form are probably habitat related. The plain form is mainly green and has numerous tiny pearly spots and occurs in seagrass beds .: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Variable sabretooth blenny is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Variable sabretooth blenny is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Oviparous, distinct pairing .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 10 m . Tropical; 25°N - 24°S West Pacific: Sri Lanka to Fiji, north to southern Taiwan and the Yaeyama Islands, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef.
🌿 Ecology
small crustaceans and occasionally on scales from fishes
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dasson variabilis | Cantor | 1849 | Synonym |
| Petrocirtes variabilis | Cantor | 1849 | Synonym |
| Petroscirtes eretes | Jordan & Seale | 1905 | Synonym |
| Petroscirtes varibilis | Cantor | 1849 | Synonym |
| Petroscirtes vulsus | Jordan & Seale | 1907 | Synonym |
| Petroscrites variabilis | Cantor | 1849 | Synonym |
| Petroskirtes amboinensis | Bleeker | 1853 | Synonym |
| Petroskirtes bankanensis | Bleeker | 1853 | Synonym |
| Petroskirtes solorensis | Bleeker | 1853 | Heterotypic |
| Salarias viperidens | De Vis | 1884 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 5 records indexed .
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