Cheilodipterus nigrotaeniatus Smith & Radcliffe, 1912
Dangat
Cheilodipterus nigrotaeniatus
photo by Bos, A.R.

Family:  Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes), subfamily: Apogoninae
Max. size:  10 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 25 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Philippines and Indonesia south to Australia and east to Solomon Islands.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Body with 4 black stripes; uppermost extending from nape along dorsal-fin base to caudal-fin base; stripes broken to dots posteriorly on caudal peduncle and caudal-fin base; the head between stripes yellowish; fins pale. Developed gill rakers on hypobranchial 1-2; on ceratobranchial 8. Preopercular edge usually smooth, sometimes with several weak serrae at angle (Ref. 8525). Mimics Malacanthus species; only close examination reveals the different mouth shape and the apogonid has two separate dorsal fins, whilst the blenny has a long continuous single fin (Ref. 48635).
Biology:  This species is apparently a Batesian mimic of the saber-toothed blenny Meiacanthus grammistes. Observed to swim in open water in a similar fashion as this blenny by using its tail to swim rather than the pectoral fins; but if approached, it quickly swims to the cover of reefs (Ref. 48635). Sexually mature between 6 to 6.5 cm. Solitary or in pairs (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Type locality, coral reefs on the northeast shore of Sacol I., east of Zamboanga. USNM 70252 (holotype of C. nigrotaeniatus) (Ref. 11356). Also collected from Tutu Bay, Jolo I. and Gomomo I. (Ref. 8525, 11356). Also Ref. 48635, 90102.


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