AZURINA ELERAE - (FOWLER & BEAN, 1928)
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Blenniiformes (Order) > Pomacentridae (Family) > Chrominae (Subfamily) > Azurina (Genus)
Demoiselle à points jumeau, Twin-spot chromis, Twinspot chromis, Twin-spot puller, Twinspot puller, Taiwan-suzumedai, タイワンスズメダイ, 台灣光鰓魚, 台湾光鳃鱼,
Demoiselle à points jumeau, Twin-spot chromis, Twinspot chromis, Twin-spot puller, Twinspot puller, Taiwan-suzumedai, タイワンスズメダイ, 台灣光鰓魚, 台湾光鳃鱼,
Synonyme
Chromis elerae (Fowler & Bean, 1928)
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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 10-11; Pectoral fin rays: 17-18; Lateral line scales: 15-17; Gill rakers: 26-31; Body depth: 1.8-1.9 in SL; Posterior edge or preopercle serrate. Eyes large. Max. length: 7.0 cm TL. Depth range: 12 - 70 m.
Color
Body grayish brown; Edges of scales orangish or bluish; Dorsal and anal fins with whitish spot on its posterior half; Anus region blackish; Upper base of pectoral with a blackish spot.
Etymology
Azurina: latinization of the French word, l’azur = blue. Referring to “deep steel blue” color on upper body of Azurina hirundo.
elerae: in honnor of zoologist R.P. Fr. Casto de Elera, a Dominican friar, author of the "Catalogo sistematico de toda la fauna de Filipinas" (1895-1896), cited several times by the authors.
Original description: Chromis elerae Fowler & Bean, 1928 - Type locality: Pasacao, Ragay Gulf, Philippines.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Maldives, Christmas Islands and Cocos-Keeling Islands (Australia) east to Marshall Islands and Fiji, north to Taiwan, south to northern Australia and New Caledonia.
Biology
Adults inhabit cave openings and crevices of steep outer reef slopes in small aggregations. May also be seen singly with black corals, large sponges or gorgonian fans. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding. Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate. Males guard and aerate the eggs.
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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 10-11; Pectoral fin rays: 17-18; Lateral line scales: 15-17; Gill rakers: 26-31; Body depth: 1.8-1.9 in SL; Posterior edge or preopercle serrate. Eyes large. Max. length: 7.0 cm TL. Depth range: 12 - 70 m.
Color
Body grayish brown; Edges of scales orangish or bluish; Dorsal and anal fins with whitish spot on its posterior half; Anus region blackish; Upper base of pectoral with a blackish spot.
Etymology
Azurina: latinization of the French word, l’azur = blue. Referring to “deep steel blue” color on upper body of Azurina hirundo.
elerae: in honnor of zoologist R.P. Fr. Casto de Elera, a Dominican friar, author of the "Catalogo sistematico de toda la fauna de Filipinas" (1895-1896), cited several times by the authors.
Original description: Chromis elerae Fowler & Bean, 1928 - Type locality: Pasacao, Ragay Gulf, Philippines.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Maldives, Christmas Islands and Cocos-Keeling Islands (Australia) east to Marshall Islands and Fiji, north to Taiwan, south to northern Australia and New Caledonia.
Biology
Adults inhabit cave openings and crevices of steep outer reef slopes in small aggregations. May also be seen singly with black corals, large sponges or gorgonian fans. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding. Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate. Males guard and aerate the eggs.
Similar species
Acanthochromis polyacanthus (Bleeker, 1855) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here). Best distinguished by 17 dorsal spines, highest number in the family. This fish has a number of color variants, and ranges from whitish to all brown or dark grey, sometimes with a white tail.
Azurina lepidolepis (Bleeker, 1877) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here).
Chromis ternatensis (Bleeker, 1856) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here).
Pycnochromis amboinensis (Bleeker, 1871) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here).
Last update: 8, March 2023
Last update: 8, March 2023