Diagnostic Description
provided by Fishbase
Diagnosis: single series of conical teeth in jaws; body depth 24.4-35.2% of standard length; dorsal fin with 17-18 spines and 9-10 soft rays (Ref. 53405).Description: head relatively long; snout pointed; frontal profile normally slightly rounded; mouth situated in a relatively inferior position; caudal fin rounded to more rhomboid; males (and rarely females) may possess slightly elongated rays in upper lobe of caudal fin (Ref. 52307). Outer and inner jaw teeth unicuspid, pharyngeal jaw teeth bicuspid; no micro-gillrakers; scales cycloid (Ref. 53405).Coloration: great differences in colour pattern among populations exist; body brownish, belly yellowish to reddish and rather indistinct longitudinal band extending from snout to caudal fin; throat and cheeks yellow or turquoise; dark spot on opercle; unpaired fins yellowish-red or white; dorsal fin dark- and light-spotted, its distal margin, as well as upper caudal margin, red; anal fin black-edged; pectoral fins hyaline; pelvic fins red, with outer rays dark (Ref. 53405). Females generally lighter in color than males, with a rosy belly that becomes red to violet when ripe, anterior of these rosy parts there is a blue iridescent zone (Ref. 52307).
Life Cycle
provided by Fishbase
Spawns in caves. Female tends the clutch (Ref. 2060).
Morphology
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Dorsal spines (total): 17 - 18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 11; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 6 - 8
Biology
provided by Fishbase
Pair bonding cave spawner (Ref. 52307). Maximum SL was recorded at 9.5 cm (Ref. 7378).