Teleostei (teleosts) >
Blenniiformes (Blennies) >
Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies) > Blenniinae
Etymology: Meiacanthus: Greek, meion = less = lessen + Greek, akantha = thorn (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated. Tropical
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 9.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Adults swim above the bottom (Ref. 9710). Juveniles observed to mingle with apogonid fishes among Diadema spines as a means of protection against predators like Pterois (Ref. 79545). Adults feed on zooplankton (Ref. 9710). 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).
Randall, J.E., 1986. Red Sea reef fishes. London, Immel Publishing. 192 p. (Ref. 8883)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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