TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets)
Subfamily: Anthiinae (Anthias)
Genus/species Pseudanthias pleurotaenia
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Sexually dichromatic. The male is orange-red to magenta, one large violet square on each side of its body (thus the common name), elongate third dorsal spine. Coloration and size of “square” highly variable among individuals; female less colorful. On many individuals, the magenta square spot appears to glow like a neon light.
Length up to 20 cm (8 in)
DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indonesia to Samoa, north to Ryukyu, Japan and south to New Caledonia and Rowley Shoals in the eastern Indian Ocean.Steep, current-swept seaward drop offs, 10–180 m (33- 600 feet), but typically below 25 m (82 feet) in-depth.
DIET IN THE WILD: Small crustaceans and fish eggs.
REPRODUCTION: Males haremic Like other serranids, basslets are protogynous hermaphrodites; in other words, they are born female, and a few change sex to become dominant males as breeding needs arise. They produce large quantities of eggs and their larvae are planktonic, generally at the mercy of ocean currents until they mature and settle into adult populations.
CONSERVATION: IUCN, Least concern
REMARKS: Usually in small (6–30 individuals) aggregations of conspecifics; females far outnumber males in the groups. Active diurnally. Nocturnally shelter within the reef.
References
California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Philippine Coral Reef 2016
fishbase www.fishbase.se/summary/Pseudanthias-pleurotaenia.html
IUCN www.iucnredlist.org/details/158627/
Monterey Bay Aquarium www.montereybayaquarium.org/animal-guide/fishes/squarespot
Georgia Aquarium www.georgiaaquarium.org/animal-guide/georgia-aquarium/hom…
Ron’s flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157608545590153/
Ron’s WordPress Shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-mz
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