Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Blenniidae (Combtooth blennies) > Blenniinae
Etymology: Meiacanthus: Greek, meion = less = lessen + Greek, akantha = thorn (Ref. 45335); tongaensis: Specific epithet refers to Tonga Is., where it appears to be endemic.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 0 - 16 m (Ref. 7401). Tropical
Pacific Ocean: apparently endemic to Tonga.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 54980)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 4;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 27-28;
Anal
spines: 2;
Anal
soft rays: 17 - 18. Lunate caudal fin with elongated lobes in adults; yellowish green on head and dorsally on body, shading to light yellow ventrally; greenish yellow dorsal and anal fins, broad black stripe near dorsal fin base; caudal fin base and lobes greenish yellow with centroposterior part transparent with pale greenish yellow rays. Segmented caudal rays 11-12 (usually 11); lateral line terminating below 3rd to 7th dorsal soft rays (Ref. 54980).
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. 120744)
CITES (Ref. 118484)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
More information
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
115969): 25.6 - 29.1, mean 28.1 (based on 91 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00537 (0.00243 - 0.01188), b=3.05 (2.85 - 3.25), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.5 ±0.5 se; Based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (24 of 100) .