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In this section, there's a wealth of information about our collections of scientific specimens and cultural objects. Come and explore what our researchers, curators and education programs have to offer.
Yellow Sabretooth Blenny, Petroscirtes f
Yellow Sabretooth Blenny, Petroscirtes fallax Smith-Vaniz, 1976
Scientific name: Petroscirtes fallax
Alternative name/s:
Deceiver Fangblenny, Reef Sabretooth Blenny, Yellow Sabre-tooth, Yellow-lined Sabretooth Blenny
Similar species:
The species may be a mimic of the venomous Lined Fangblenny Meiacanthus lineatus.
Mark McGrouther
A Yellow Sabretooth Blenny at a depth of 4 m, Bowen, Queensland, 23 November 2012. Image: Phil Mercurio
© Phil Mercurio
fallax
Petroscirtes
Blenniidae
Subphylum
The species grows to 10 cm in length.
The Yellow Sabretooth Blenny has an elongate body and a blunt downward-pointing snout. The species is endemic to Australia.
The Yellow Sabretooth Blenny has an elongate body and a blunt downward-pointing snout. It has a single long-based dorsal fin. The mouth can be opened very wide to expose a pair of large curved canines at the front of the lower jaw. The species is yellow above and white below. There are three dark stripes on the head and body.
The Yellow Sabretooth Blenny is endemic to Australia. It occurs in coral reefs and sheltered coastal bays and estuaries from northern Queensland to southern New South Wales.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
Blenniidae fishes of sydney harbour
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Larval pelican flounder, Chascanopsetta sp.
Blue-ringed Angelfish, Pomacanthus annularis (Bloch, 1787)
Threadfin Emperor, Lethrinus genivittatus Valenciennes, 1830
Black Snoek, Thyrsitoides marleyi Fowler, 1929
Ornate Butterflyfish, Chaetodon ornatissimus Cuvier, 1831
Largemouth Threefin, Ucla xenogrammus Holleman, 1993
Marbled Flathead, Platycephalus marmoratus Stead, 1908
Spookfish, Harriotta sp.
Northern Saratoga, Scleropages jardinii (Saville-Kent, 1892)
Blobfish (aka Mr Blobby)
Narrow-lined Pufferfish, Arothron manilensis (Proce,1822)
Giant Shovelnose Ray, Glaucostegus typus (Bennett, 1830)
Samsonfish, Seriola hippos Günther, 1876
Leopard Blenny, Exallias brevis (Kner, 1868)
Bigeye Scad, Selar crumenophthalmus (Bloch, 1793)
Araara, Pseudocaranx georgianus (Cuvier, 1833)
Coral Blenny, Ecsenius yaeyamaensis (Aoyagi, 1954)
Descriptions of six new species of jawfishes (Opistognathidae: Opistognathus) from Australia
AM Journal Article
Yellow Scissortail, Assessor flavissimus Allen & Kuiter, 1976
Larvae, adults and relationships of the monotypic perciform fish family Lactariidae
Hairtail Blenny, Xiphasia setifer Swainston, 1839
Fish publications - 2004
The following papers published in 2004 have used specimens from the Australian Museum fish collection.
Bluestriped Fangblenny, Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos (Bleeker, 1852)
Yellowtail Fang Blenny, Meiacanthus atrodorsalis (Gunther, 1877)
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