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Blenniiformes (Blennies) >
Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies) > Blenniinae
Etymology: Meiacanthus: Greek, meion = less = lessen + Greek, akantha = thorn (Ref. 45335); vicinus: Specific epithet means 'near' or 'neighboring' referring to the presumed sister species relationship with M. geminatus.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 1 - 10 m (Ref. 90102). Tropical
Western Central Pacific: known only from Indonesia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 4.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 7401)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 15. White with a pair of black stripes on upper head and body, the dorsalmost extending onto basal portion of dorsal fin. Segmented caudal rays 11; in adult males, outer lobes of caudal fin moderately elongated; body depth about 4.6 in SL. Maximum size to 6.5 cm TL (Ref. 90102).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated; Cross section: oval.
Adults are found in sheltered coastal, lagoon, and outer reefs in 1-10 m; solitary or in pairs (Ref. 90102). Collected from a depth of 10 m (Ref. 7401). Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive (Ref. 205), and are attached to the substrate via a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal (Ref. 94114). Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters (Ref. 94114).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, distinct pairing (Ref. 205).
Smith-Vaniz, W.F., 1987. The saber-toothed blennies, tribe Nemophini (Pisces: Bleniidae): an update. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 139:1-52. (Ref. 7401)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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