Home > Fishes > Blennies > Plagiotremus goslinei

Updated 3/21/2015

Family Blenniidae

HAWAII - ENDEMIC 

Plagiotremus goslinei   

Waimanalo, Oahu, 20 feet

Kaena Point, Oahu, 25 feet

 

Firehouse, Oahu, 25 feet

 

Waimea Bay, Oahu, 40 feet

Firehouse, Oahu, 20 feet

La Perouse Bay, Maui, 20 feet

 

Makapu'u, Oahu, 20 feet

Ke Iki Beach, Oahu, 20 feet

 



Sharks Cove, Oahu, 15 feet



Sharks Cove, Oahu, 15 feet

GOSLINE'S FANGBLENNY

Common on shallow reefs with surge where it lives in vermetid snail tubes.  Swims like a cleaner wrasse, with a bouncing action to attract unwary fish which are then bitten, the sharp incisors taking a chunk of flesh.  Attains 4 inches.  Endemic to Hawai'i.  Replaced by Plagiotremus tapeinosoma of the Indo-Pacific.

 

I have enjoyed your site for a long time now and have used it to identify new fish I find in Hawaii. Thank you for putting up such a nice site. I have passed it along to many who love it also. This last August we were snorkeling in Kapalua Bay on Maui and I found a little guy who I can't figure out if it is a Goby, Blennie, or what. I can't find anything on your site or in any of my books that match it. I know it may be a juvenile that may change later. It's the only one I've seen in several years of snorkeling in the islands. It was around the top of a pillar if you will with lots of Chromis around as well others and a cleaner wrasse station on the other side. The one thing I noticed was this poor little guy didn't seem to be well liked by the others. Any help to ID this guy would be greatly appreciated. 

Thank you, 

Tim Gannon 

Kapalua Bay, Maui

Hi Tim,
Interesting observation you made about this fish not being well-liked since this is absolutely true.  Gosline's Fangblenny is a opportunistic carnivore that pretends to be a cleaner wrasse at times.  It has huge incisors on the jaw used to take chunks of flesh from passersby.  On occasion they will bite a diver without a wetsuit.

Mahalo for using my web and passing it on.   

Keoki Stender