THALASSOMA NIGROFASCIATUM - (RANDALL, 2003)
Actinopteri (Class) > Perciformes (Order) > Labroidei (Suborder) > Labridae (Family) > Thalassoma (Genus)
Girelle à quatre bandes noires, Blackbarred Wrasse, Blackbar Wrasse,
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Description
Diagnosis: Dorsal rays VIII,13. Anal rays III,11, the first spine, when detectable is very slender and short. Pectoral rays 15-16 (usually 15). Lateral line scales 26-27. Head naked, except for a small patch of scales dorsally on opercle. Gill rakers 20-23. Body depth 5.9-3.6 in SL; head length (HL) 3.1-3.4 in SL; snout length 8.4-9.8 in SL; caudal peduncle depth 6.2-6.65 in SL; pectoral fins 4.0-4.3 in SL; pelvic fins 6.3-6.9 in SL.
The caudal fin is truncate in young individuals, becoming strongly lunate with filamentous lobes in adult males.
The initial phase is white with postorbital head and anterior body above pectoral-fin base black with an oblique yellow band above dorsal edge of opercle, a black bar over last 4 or 5 dorsal spines continuing ventrally across body, its posterior edge vertical, and a broader black bar over last 9 soft rays of dorsal fin, across the body, and posterior anal fin; a black spot on first 2 membranes of dorsal fin;
the terminal males with yellow partly replacing the white, a salmon pink patch on chin, and blue ventrally on head and chest.
Max length : 20.0 cm SL. Depth range 0 - 15 m.
Etymology
Thalassoma: Greek, thalassa = the sea + Greek, soma = body; the colour of the sea.
nigrofasciatum: Name from Latin, referring to the presence of black bars on the body.
Original description: Thalassoma nigrofasciatum Randall, 2003 - Type locality: Phillips Point, Lord Howe Island, southwestern Pacific, depth 7.5 meters.
Distribution
Western Pacific: Papua New Guinea, Australia, Lord Howe Island, New Caledonia and east to Fiji and Niue, south to Kermadec Islands.
Biology
Found solitary or in groups, most commonly on outer reef areas, and also found in coastal reefs, lagoons and tide pools. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding.
Girelle à quatre bandes noires, Blackbarred Wrasse, Blackbar Wrasse,
---------------------------------------------
Description
Diagnosis: Dorsal rays VIII,13. Anal rays III,11, the first spine, when detectable is very slender and short. Pectoral rays 15-16 (usually 15). Lateral line scales 26-27. Head naked, except for a small patch of scales dorsally on opercle. Gill rakers 20-23. Body depth 5.9-3.6 in SL; head length (HL) 3.1-3.4 in SL; snout length 8.4-9.8 in SL; caudal peduncle depth 6.2-6.65 in SL; pectoral fins 4.0-4.3 in SL; pelvic fins 6.3-6.9 in SL.
The caudal fin is truncate in young individuals, becoming strongly lunate with filamentous lobes in adult males.
The initial phase is white with postorbital head and anterior body above pectoral-fin base black with an oblique yellow band above dorsal edge of opercle, a black bar over last 4 or 5 dorsal spines continuing ventrally across body, its posterior edge vertical, and a broader black bar over last 9 soft rays of dorsal fin, across the body, and posterior anal fin; a black spot on first 2 membranes of dorsal fin;
the terminal males with yellow partly replacing the white, a salmon pink patch on chin, and blue ventrally on head and chest.
Max length : 20.0 cm SL. Depth range 0 - 15 m.
Etymology
Thalassoma: Greek, thalassa = the sea + Greek, soma = body; the colour of the sea.
nigrofasciatum: Name from Latin, referring to the presence of black bars on the body.
Original description: Thalassoma nigrofasciatum Randall, 2003 - Type locality: Phillips Point, Lord Howe Island, southwestern Pacific, depth 7.5 meters.
Distribution
Western Pacific: Papua New Guinea, Australia, Lord Howe Island, New Caledonia and east to Fiji and Niue, south to Kermadec Islands.
Biology
Found solitary or in groups, most commonly on outer reef areas, and also found in coastal reefs, lagoons and tide pools. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding.
Similar species
Thalassoma jansenii (Bleeker, 1856) - Not reported from New Caledonia. It is mostly black with narrower white or yellow bands.
Thalassoma jansenii (Bleeker, 1856) - Not reported from New Caledonia. It is mostly black with narrower white or yellow bands.