PSEUDOCHEILINUS OCELLATUS - (RANDALL, 1999)
Picture courtesy of: Alain Daoulas
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Labriformes (Order) > Labroidei (Suborder) > Labridae (Family) > Pseudocheilinus (Genus)
Whitebarred pink wrasse, Fivebarred wrasse, Magenta wrasse, Mystery wrassse, Tail spot wrasse, White-barred pink wrasse, Whitebarred wrasse, Yokoshimanisemochinouo, ヨコシマニセモチノウオ,
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9; Pectoral fin rays: 14-15; Gill rakers: 12-13. Six branchiostegal rays. Dorsal and anal fins not greatly expanded; Snout moderately long and pointed: 2.5-3.2 times in head length. Max. length: 10.3 cm SL. Depth range: 20 - 70 m.
Color
Body magenta with vertical white lines and an ocellated black sport about size of pupil on midside of caudal peduncle; Head yellow anterior to preopercle, with magenta and violet lines and a semicirular deep red spot below and behind eye.
Etymology
Pseudocheilinus: from Greek, pseudes = false + from Greek, cheilos = lip.
ocellatus: from Latin = having small eyes or an eyelike marking in the form of a spot or ring of color, as on the wing of a butterfly or the tail of a peacock. Referring to distinctive ocellated black spot posteriorly on body (numerous small blue spots on caudal fin and soft portions of dorsal and anal fins are also ocellated).
Original description: Pseudocheilinus ocellatus Randall, 1999 - Type locality: Outside reef at base of drop-off, Laura Island, Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands, western Pacific, depth 26 meters.
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Labriformes (Order) > Labroidei (Suborder) > Labridae (Family) > Pseudocheilinus (Genus)
Whitebarred pink wrasse, Fivebarred wrasse, Magenta wrasse, Mystery wrassse, Tail spot wrasse, White-barred pink wrasse, Whitebarred wrasse, Yokoshimanisemochinouo, ヨコシマニセモチノウオ,
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9; Pectoral fin rays: 14-15; Gill rakers: 12-13. Six branchiostegal rays. Dorsal and anal fins not greatly expanded; Snout moderately long and pointed: 2.5-3.2 times in head length. Max. length: 10.3 cm SL. Depth range: 20 - 70 m.
Color
Body magenta with vertical white lines and an ocellated black sport about size of pupil on midside of caudal peduncle; Head yellow anterior to preopercle, with magenta and violet lines and a semicirular deep red spot below and behind eye.
Etymology
Pseudocheilinus: from Greek, pseudes = false + from Greek, cheilos = lip.
ocellatus: from Latin = having small eyes or an eyelike marking in the form of a spot or ring of color, as on the wing of a butterfly or the tail of a peacock. Referring to distinctive ocellated black spot posteriorly on body (numerous small blue spots on caudal fin and soft portions of dorsal and anal fins are also ocellated).
Original description: Pseudocheilinus ocellatus Randall, 1999 - Type locality: Outside reef at base of drop-off, Laura Island, Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands, western Pacific, depth 26 meters.
Distribution
Western and central Pacific: Ryukyu Islands, Ogasawara Islands (Japan), Wake Island and Johnston Atoll to Palau and Caroline Islands; Queensland (Australia), east to Pitcairn Group, south to Loyalty Islands (New Caledonia) and Austral Islands.
Western and central Pacific: Ryukyu Islands, Ogasawara Islands (Japan), Wake Island and Johnston Atoll to Palau and Caroline Islands; Queensland (Australia), east to Pitcairn Group, south to Loyalty Islands (New Caledonia) and Austral Islands.
Biology
A secretive cryptic species that prefers darker areas on deeper reefs, often in caves and beneath overhangs on drop-offs. Benthopelagic. Feeds on small benthic invertebrates. Hermaphrodite, oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding. Aquarium fish.
Last update: 29, March 2023
A secretive cryptic species that prefers darker areas on deeper reefs, often in caves and beneath overhangs on drop-offs. Benthopelagic. Feeds on small benthic invertebrates. Hermaphrodite, oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding. Aquarium fish.
Last update: 29, March 2023