PSEUDOCHROMIS CYANOTAENIA - (BLEEKER, 1857)
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Blenniiformes (Order) > Pseudochromidae (Family) > Pseudochrominae (Subfamily) > Pseudochromis (Genus)
Blue-barred dottyback, Bluebarred dottyback, Surge dottyback, Yellowhead dottyback, Ryukyu-nisesuzume, リュウキュウニセスズメ, 蓝带准雀鲷, 藍帶准雀鯛,
Synonyme
Pseudochromis kikaii (Aoyagi, 1941)
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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 3, anterior spine easily overlooked; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21-23 (usually: 22), mostly branched, segmented rays; Anal spines: 3, anterior spine easily overlooked; Anal soft rays: 12-14 (usually: 13), mostly branched, segmented rays. Pectoral fins rays: 17-19 (rarely: 16 or 20) segmented rays. Pelvic fins rays: I spine and 5 branched, segmented rays. Lateral line disjunct, consisting of an anterodorsal series of 24-31 (usually: 25-29) tubed scales extending from gill opening, and a peduncular series of 6-11 tubed scales. Circumpeduncular scales: 16. Dorsal and anal fins without distinct scaly sheaths. Vertebrae: 10+16; Supraneural (predorsal) bones: 3, of approximately equal size. Caudal fin rounded, the upper part with: 7-8 (rarely: 6) procurrent rays and 9 principal rays, the lower part with 6-7 (rarely: 8) procurrent rays and 8 principal rays. Body relatively slender; Distance from dorsal-fin origin to pelvic-fin origin: 25-28 % in Standard Length. Lower lip either uninterrupted at symphysis, or with weak interruption only. Vomerine teeth relatively large, arranged in a chevron. Total gill rakers on first gill arch: 13-16, of which 3-5 on upper limb, and 10-11 (rarely: 9-12) on lower limb. Max. length: 6.2 cm TL. Depth range: 0 - 30 m, usually: 0 - 20 m.
Blue-barred dottyback, Bluebarred dottyback, Surge dottyback, Yellowhead dottyback, Ryukyu-nisesuzume, リュウキュウニセスズメ, 蓝带准雀鲷, 藍帶准雀鯛,
Synonyme
Pseudochromis kikaii (Aoyagi, 1941)
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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 3, anterior spine easily overlooked; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21-23 (usually: 22), mostly branched, segmented rays; Anal spines: 3, anterior spine easily overlooked; Anal soft rays: 12-14 (usually: 13), mostly branched, segmented rays. Pectoral fins rays: 17-19 (rarely: 16 or 20) segmented rays. Pelvic fins rays: I spine and 5 branched, segmented rays. Lateral line disjunct, consisting of an anterodorsal series of 24-31 (usually: 25-29) tubed scales extending from gill opening, and a peduncular series of 6-11 tubed scales. Circumpeduncular scales: 16. Dorsal and anal fins without distinct scaly sheaths. Vertebrae: 10+16; Supraneural (predorsal) bones: 3, of approximately equal size. Caudal fin rounded, the upper part with: 7-8 (rarely: 6) procurrent rays and 9 principal rays, the lower part with 6-7 (rarely: 8) procurrent rays and 8 principal rays. Body relatively slender; Distance from dorsal-fin origin to pelvic-fin origin: 25-28 % in Standard Length. Lower lip either uninterrupted at symphysis, or with weak interruption only. Vomerine teeth relatively large, arranged in a chevron. Total gill rakers on first gill arch: 13-16, of which 3-5 on upper limb, and 10-11 (rarely: 9-12) on lower limb. Max. length: 6.2 cm TL. Depth range: 0 - 30 m, usually: 0 - 20 m.
Color
Females and juveniles with head and body brownish to greyish brown, paler ventrally on head and breast, sometimes becoming reddish on caudal peduncle; Dorsal and anal fins greyish basally and clear on outer parts; Caudal fin yellowish grey to bright orange-red basally, becoming bright yellow to clear posteriorly.
Males with lower part of head and lower part of body anterior to aboutmiddle of pectoral fins yellowish grey to bright yellow; Scales of ascending portion of anterior lateral line and of scale row beneath horizontal portion of anterior lateral line yellowish grey to bright yellow; Remainder of head and body dark grey to black, often with bluish or greenish sheen, and sometimes with several short, bluish grey to bright blue bars above anal fin and on caudal peduncle; Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins dark grey to black basally, with remainder of fin pale blue to clear.
Etymology
Pseudochromis: from Greek, pseudes = false + from Greek, chroemo = to neigh. A name dating to Aristotle, referring to a drum (Sciaenidae) and its ability to make noise; Later applied to this damselfish and subsequently expanded to embrace dottybacks, cichlids and wrasses (all perch-like fishes once thought to be related).
cyanotaenia: from Greek, kyanos = light blue + from Latin, taenia = ribbon, band, tapeworm. Referring to oblique blue bars on posterior sides of males.
Original description: Pseudochromis cyanotaenia Bleeker, 1857 - Type locality: Kajeli, Buru Island, Molucca Islands, Indonesia.
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean, western Pacific: Indonesia east to Kiribati (Gilbert Islands) and Vanuatu, north to Ryukyu Islands (southern Japan), south to Coral Sea and New Caledonia.
Females and juveniles with head and body brownish to greyish brown, paler ventrally on head and breast, sometimes becoming reddish on caudal peduncle; Dorsal and anal fins greyish basally and clear on outer parts; Caudal fin yellowish grey to bright orange-red basally, becoming bright yellow to clear posteriorly.
Males with lower part of head and lower part of body anterior to aboutmiddle of pectoral fins yellowish grey to bright yellow; Scales of ascending portion of anterior lateral line and of scale row beneath horizontal portion of anterior lateral line yellowish grey to bright yellow; Remainder of head and body dark grey to black, often with bluish or greenish sheen, and sometimes with several short, bluish grey to bright blue bars above anal fin and on caudal peduncle; Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins dark grey to black basally, with remainder of fin pale blue to clear.
Etymology
Pseudochromis: from Greek, pseudes = false + from Greek, chroemo = to neigh. A name dating to Aristotle, referring to a drum (Sciaenidae) and its ability to make noise; Later applied to this damselfish and subsequently expanded to embrace dottybacks, cichlids and wrasses (all perch-like fishes once thought to be related).
cyanotaenia: from Greek, kyanos = light blue + from Latin, taenia = ribbon, band, tapeworm. Referring to oblique blue bars on posterior sides of males.
Original description: Pseudochromis cyanotaenia Bleeker, 1857 - Type locality: Kajeli, Buru Island, Molucca Islands, Indonesia.
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean, western Pacific: Indonesia east to Kiribati (Gilbert Islands) and Vanuatu, north to Ryukyu Islands (southern Japan), south to Coral Sea and New Caledonia.
Biology
A common but secretive species found in holes and crevices of exposed outer reef flats and reef margins. Occurs in pairs and feeds on small crabs, isopods, and copepods. Usually most abundant in high current or surge areas. Frequently enters the aquarium fish trade and has been bred in captivity. Sometimes solitary. Bi-directional sex change has been confirmed for this species.
Similar species
Pseudochromis coccinicauda (Tickell, 1888) - Reported from Indo-West Pacific: Lakshadweep Islands (India), Maldives and Andaman Sea east to eastern Malaysia and southern Sumatra and Java and Bali (Indonesia).
Pseudochromis tapeinosoma (Bleeker, 1853) - Reported from Eastern Indian Ocean, western Pacific: Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) and Indonesia east to Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan.
Similar species
Pseudochromis coccinicauda (Tickell, 1888) - Reported from Indo-West Pacific: Lakshadweep Islands (India), Maldives and Andaman Sea east to eastern Malaysia and southern Sumatra and Java and Bali (Indonesia).
Pseudochromis tapeinosoma (Bleeker, 1853) - Reported from Eastern Indian Ocean, western Pacific: Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) and Indonesia east to Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan.
Last update: 4, March 2023