Bluestriped fangblenny
Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Bluestriped fangblenny
- Scientific
- Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos
- Dhivehi
- ފަންސޫރު މަސްFansooru mas
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- Up to about 12 cm (standard length) (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 11 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 1 to 40 m
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2009
Description
A slender fangblenny with two bright blue stripes on a dark brown, yellowish or yellow body. It darts out from an empty worm tube to bite skin, mucus and scales from other fish, and occasionally nips divers. In its blue-and-black form it looks like the cleaner wrasse; in its yellow form it blends in with swarms of anthias, both disguises that help it get close to victims.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name fansooru mas (MRS 1997).
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Plagiotremus-rhinorhynchos.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- fishbase.se /comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=6071&GenusName=Plagiotremus&SpeciesNa
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ފަންސޫރު_މަސް
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Blénido_(Plagiotremus_rhinorhynchos),_Ambalihabe,_Madagasca
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Fansooru mas' (Latin form). FishBase (country: Maldives) agrees: 'Fansooru mas'. Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ފަންސޫރު މަސް' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form.