Petroscirtes


Petroscirtes is a genus of combtooth blennies found in the western Pacific, and Indian oceans. Some species of this genus have venom that interacts with opioid receptors. Adults usually inhabit coastal reefs and estuaries to depths of about 10 meters, but they can also be found up to 15 meters in depth in sandy and weedy areas among clumps of Sargassum or other seaweeds in coastal and lagoon reefs. They can be found in nests inside small-necked bottles and abandoned worm tubes or shells.

Species

There are currently 11 recognized species in this genus:Petroscirtes ancylodon Rüppell, 1835 Petroscirtes breviceps Petroscirtes fallax Smith-Vaniz, 1976 Petroscirtes lupus Petroscirtes marginatus Smith-Vaniz, 1976Petroscirtes mitratus Rüppell, 1830 Petroscirtes pylei Smith-Vaniz, 2005 Petroscirtes springeri Smith-Vaniz, 1976Petroscirtes thepassii Bleeker, 1853 Petroscirtes variabilis Cantor, 1849 Petroscirtes xestus D. S. Jordan & Seale, 1906