Meiacanthus is a genus of combtooth blennies found in the western Pacific and Indian oceans. Many species in this genus make their way into the aquarium trade and several are venomous. The genus name Meiacanthus is derived from the Greek meion meaning "less" and akantha meaning "thorn" and refers to most species having relatively few dorsal fin spines.
Species
There are currently 28 recognized species in this genus:
- Meiacanthus abditus <small>Smith-Vaniz, 1987</small>
- Meiacanthus abruptus <small>Smith-Vaniz & G. R. Allen, 2011</small>
- Meiacanthus anema <small>(Bleeker, 1852)</small> (Threadless blenny)
- Meiacanthus atrodorsalis <small>(Günther, 1877)</small> (Forktail blenny)
- Meiacanthus bundoon <small>Smith-Vaniz, 1976</small> (Bundoon blenny)
- Meiacanthus crinitus <small>Smith-Vaniz, 1987</small>
- Meiacanthus cyanopterus <small>Smith-Vaniz & G. R. Allen, 2011</small>
- Meiacanthus ditrema <small>Smith-Vaniz, 1976</small> (One-striped poison-fang blenny)
- Meiacanthus erdmanni <small>Smith-Vaniz & G. R. Allen, 2011</small>
- Meiacanthus fraseri <small>Smith-Vaniz, 1976</small>
- Meiacanthus geminatus <small>Smith-Vaniz, 1976</small>
- Meiacanthus grammistes <small>(Valenciennes, 1836)</small> (Striped poison-fang blenny)
- Meiacanthus kamoharai <small>Tomiyama, 1956</small>
- Meiacanthus limbatus <small>Smith-Vaniz, 1987</small>
- Meiacanthus lineatus <small>(De Vis, 1884)</small> (Lined fangblenny)
- Meiacanthus luteus <small>Smith-Vaniz, 1987</small> (Yellow fangbelly)
- Meiacanthus mossambicus <small>J. L. B. Smith, 1959</small> (Mozambique fangblenny)
- Meiacanthus naevius <small>Smith-Vaniz, 1987</small>
- Meiacanthus nigrolineatus <small>Smith-Vaniz, 1969</small> (Blackline fangblenny)
- Meiacanthus oualanensis <small>(Günther, 1880)</small>
- Meiacanthus phaeus <small>Smith-Vaniz, 1976</small>
- Meiacanthus procne <small>Smith-Vaniz, 1976</small>
- Meiacanthus reticulatus <small>Smith-Vaniz, 1976</small>
- Meiacanthus smithi <small>Klausewitz, 1962</small> (Disco blenny)
References