PETROSCIRTES VARIABILIS - (CANTOR, 1849)
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Blenniiformes (Order) > Blenniidae (Family) > Blenniinae (Subfamily) > Petroscirtes (Genus)
Saber-toothed blenny, Sabertooth blenny, Variable blenny, Variable fangblenny, Variable sabre-tooth, Variable sabretooth blenny, Viper blenny, Inuginpo,
Synonymes
Dasson variabilis (Cantor, 1849)
Petrocirtes variabilis (Cantor, 1849)
Petroscirtes varibilis (Cantor, 1849)
Petroscrites variabilis (Cantor, 1849)
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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. Some color form are probably habitat related. The plain form is mainly green and has numerous tiny pearly spots and occurs in seagrass beds. Max. length: 15.0 cm. Depth range: 1 - 5 m.
Etymology
Petroscirtes: from Ancient Greek, pétra = stone, rock + from Greek, skirteo = to jump. Referring to Rüppell’s claim that Petroscirte mitratus was seen jumping between rocks out of the water hunting for small amphipods; However, since Petroscirte mitratus is not amphibious, Rüppell may have confused it with Alticus saliens, observing both blennies at Jubal Island (Egypt, Red Sea) and thinking they were conspecific.
variabilis: from Latin, variābilis = variable, changeable.
Saber-toothed blenny, Sabertooth blenny, Variable blenny, Variable fangblenny, Variable sabre-tooth, Variable sabretooth blenny, Viper blenny, Inuginpo,
Synonymes
Dasson variabilis (Cantor, 1849)
Petrocirtes variabilis (Cantor, 1849)
Petroscirtes varibilis (Cantor, 1849)
Petroscrites variabilis (Cantor, 1849)
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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. Some color form are probably habitat related. The plain form is mainly green and has numerous tiny pearly spots and occurs in seagrass beds. Max. length: 15.0 cm. Depth range: 1 - 5 m.
Etymology
Petroscirtes: from Ancient Greek, pétra = stone, rock + from Greek, skirteo = to jump. Referring to Rüppell’s claim that Petroscirte mitratus was seen jumping between rocks out of the water hunting for small amphipods; However, since Petroscirte mitratus is not amphibious, Rüppell may have confused it with Alticus saliens, observing both blennies at Jubal Island (Egypt, Red Sea) and thinking they were conspecific.
variabilis: from Latin, variābilis = variable, changeable.
Original description: Petroscirtes variabilis Cantor, 1849 - Type locality: Sea of Penang, Malaysia; Singapore.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Sri Lanka east to Philippines and Papua New Guinea, north to Taiwan and south to Australia and New Caledonia.
Biology
Adults occur in seagrass beds of shallow lagoons. Also in Sargassum rafts during or immediately after wet season. 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.
Similar species
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Sri Lanka east to Philippines and Papua New Guinea, north to Taiwan and south to Australia and New Caledonia.
Biology
Adults occur in seagrass beds of shallow lagoons. Also in Sargassum rafts during or immediately after wet season. 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.
Similar species
Petroscirtes thepassii (Bleeker, 1853) - Reported from Indo-West Pacific: Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Palau, Yap and Chuuk. Closely related to Petroscirtes variabilis, but is usually more elongate and has a bulbous or elongate snout.
Petroscirtes breviceps (Valenciennes, 1836) - Reported from New Caledonia. Similar to Petroscirtes variabilis in shape but has lined pattern on the body rather than a blotched pattern.
Petroscirtes breviceps (Valenciennes, 1836) - Reported from New Caledonia. Similar to Petroscirtes variabilis in shape but has lined pattern on the body rather than a blotched pattern.