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 squamipinnis

Male below

Scalefin Anthias aka Lyretail Fairy Basslet (male) IMG_0111

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Males can get at least 5”. Females slightly smaller. Color patterns vary from one locality to another. Marked sexual dimorphism; Males often fuchsia in color with elongated third ray of the dorsal fin, a red patch on the pectoral fin and elongated margins of the tail. Females orange/gold color with violet streak below the eye.

Female below

Scalefin Anthias aka Lyretail Fairy Basslet (female) 9830744184_8184c027fd_k

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Natal, South Africa to Niue, north to Japan, south to Australia. Found above coral outcrops or patch reefs of clear lagoons, channels, or outer reef slopes. depth range 0 – 55 m (170 feet).

DIET IN THE WILD: Zooplankton

REPRODUCTION: A protogynous hermaphrodite. All start life as females. The dominant fish will turn into a male, changing sex, and color and pattern. The male keeps a harem of several females.

CONSERVATION:  Not evaluated

References

California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Philippine Coral Reef 2016

Ron’s flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157608545590153/with/3123885371/

Ron’s WordPress Shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-YX

fishbase  www.fishbase.org/summary/6568

Australian Museum australianmuseum.net.au/orange-basslet-pseudanthias-squam…

Encyclopedia Of Life eol.org/pages/204729/details