Blue-striped Fangblenny (Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos)

Also known as Blueline Sabretooth Blenny, Blue-lined Blenny, Blue-lined Sabretooth Blenny, Blue-striped Blenny, Blue-striped Sabretooth Blenny, Blunt-nosed Blenny, Cleaner Mimic, False Cleanerfish, Fang Blenny, Imposter Fangblenny, Sabretooth Blenny, Sabre-toothed Blenny, Tubeworm Blenny, Twostripe Blenny

Description

Also known as Blueline Sabretooth Blenny, Blue-lined Blenny, Blue-lined Sabretooth Blenny, Blue-striped Blenny, Blue-striped Sabretooth Blenny, Blunt-nosed Blenny, Cleaner Mimic, False Cleanerfish, Fang Blenny, Imposter Fangblenny, Sabretooth Blenny, Sabre-toothed Blenny, Tubeworm Blenny, Twostripe Blenny.

Found singly, hiding in deserted worm tubes or holes in the reef, with just their heads showing, over clearwater lagoons and inner coral reefs, rich in algae and coral growth. Mimicking other fish, often changing their colour to get close to passing fish, and then attacking, biting off small pieces of mucus, scales and tissue. They also like to eat divers!!!!
They feed on skin, mucus and scales of other fish.
Length - 12cm
Depth - 1-40m
Widespread Indo-Pacific

Combtooth Blennies are the largest family of blennies, found in both tropical and subtropical waters and freshwater habitats, as the name suggests they have comb like teeth lining their jaws.
Sabretooth Blennies have teeth to match their name!
They can be seen darting forward to sever flesh from fishes fins. (can sometimes be seen taking a swipe at divers as well) They will then dart back into their holes out of harm's way.
Some blennies will mimic cleaner wrasses to get close enough for a nip at fish.
A few Sabretooth Blennies are venomous. Ref: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Plagiotremus-rhinorhynchos.html

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