Striped poison-fang blenny (Meiacanthus grammistes)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
Meiacanthus grammistes, the striped blenny, also called the striped fang blenny, grammistes blenny, line-spot harptail blenny or striped poison-fang blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny from the western Pacific Ocean. The fish stays in the open ocean, but travels into shallow saltwater and brackish estuaries. This venomous species occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.
- Scientific name
- Meiacanthus grammistes
- Authority
- (Valenciennes, 1836)
- Family
- Blenniidae
- Order
- Blenniiformes
- Maximum length
- 11 cm
- Depth range
- 1–20 m
- Habitat zone
- reef-associated
- Iucn red list
- Least Concern
- Gbif occurrence records
- 1,368
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Blenniiformes · Family: Blenniidae · Genus: Meiacanthus.
Accepted name: Meiacanthus grammistes · Authority: (Valenciennes, 1836) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 279310.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Blennechis grammistes Valenciennes, 1836; Petroskirtes temminckii Bleeker, 1851.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=279310 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Meiacanthus grammistes. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 11 cm · Depth range: 1–20 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: elongated · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.
FishBase notes: A solitary species found in sheltered lagoon and seaward reefs (Ref. 9710, 48636). Several adults together occasionally in close vicinity to each other (Ref. 48636). 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). Several geographical variations and is mimicked by another blenny Petroscirtes breviceps (Ref. 48636). Both fang and venom gland are present (Ref. 57406).
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 6069) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Meiacanthus-grammistes.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
1,368 georeferenced occurrence records for Meiacanthus grammistes are published through GBIF from 17 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 170 distinct locations from a sample of 1,368 records, omitting 23 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.
Most records by country or area: Australia (891); Indonesia (175); Philippines (150); Palau (36); Chinese Taipei (35).
The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2395887) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2395887&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=279310 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Conservation status (IUCN Red List)
The IUCN Red List assesses Meiacanthus grammistes (Valenciennes, 1836) as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.
Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 48342154) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/48342154/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2395887) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2395887/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
The fish is stout and deep-bodied, with a pointed snout and long continuous dorsal fin. It is brown with tan wavy bands stretching the length of its body. On the dorsal fin near the head is a small blue spot. This species grows to 11 cm TL. The fish has relatively large fangs (canine teeth) that protrude from the lower jaw.
The unusual venom, which targets the body's opioid receptors, is being investigated as a potential new painkiller for human use. The venom consists of a neuropeptide also seen in cone snail venom, a lipase similar to the one used by certain species of scorpions and an opioid peptide. Blennies use it to stun predators. The venom reduces the blood pressure of the predator, relaxing its jaws so the blenny can escape. Administration of the venom was found to not cause pain in mice, which is atypical, as most fish venoms are painful. Administration of the venom also did not result in a drop in heart rate in rats.
Source: Wikipedia: Meiacanthus grammistes — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiacanthus_grammistes (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
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