Yellowtail Fangblenny

Meiacanthus atrodorsalis, the Forktail blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny found in coral reefs in the western Pacific ocean. This species grows to a length of 11 centimetres (4.3 in) TL. This venomous species can also be found in the aquarium trade. It is also known as the Eye-lash harptail-blenny, Poison-fang blenny or the Yellowtail poison-fang blenny.

Description

Identified by the blue-edged diagonal black line from the eye and yellow dorsal fin or back. Adults have long filaments on the caudal fin tips; length without filaments. Dorsal spines (total): 4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25-28; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 15 - 18.

Distribution

Western Pacific: Bali and the Philippines east to Samoa, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to Rowley Shoals, the southern Great Barrier Reef, and New Caledonia; throughout Micronesia. Replaced by the uniformly yellow species ovalauensis in Fiji, and by Meiacanthus tongaensis in Tonga.

Habitat

Adults are found solitary or in pairs in lagoon and seaward reefs below the surge zone to 30 m depth. A common species, often seen along slopes and drop-offs, adults sometimes in small groups. Feed on zooplankton and also on small benthic invertebrates. Inoffensive, but immune from predation. 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. Mimicked by Ecsenius bicolor and Plagiotremus laudanus.