English Name: Smith’s sabretooth blenny
Family: BLENNIIDAE
Local Name: Dhaiythoonu funna
Order: Perciformes
Size: Max. 8cm
Specimen: MRS/0258/88
Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 3-5 spines and 24-26 soft rays. Anal fin with 2 spines and 15-17 soft rays. Pectoral fin with 13-15 rays. Lateral line present. Middle rays of caudal fin longest.
Colour: Pale greeny cream. Black bar from eye to origin of dorsal fin, which itself has a thick black stripe along its length.
Habitat and Biology: Thought to feed on small worms and crustaceans.
Distribution: Maldives to Indonesia.
Remarks: Meiacanthus sinithi was first discovered by scientists during Dr. Hans Hass’ ’Xarifa’ expedition to the Maldives. Blennies of the genus Meiacanthus are unique among fishes in having poison glands associated with a greatly enlarged and grooved pair of lower canine teeth.