PSEUDOCHROMIS CYANOTAENIA - (BLEEKER, 1857)
Actinopteri (Class) > Perciformes (Order) > Percoidei (Suborder) > Pseudochromidae (Family) > Pseudochrominae (Subfamily) > Pseudochromis (Genus)
Blue-barred dottyback, Bluebarred dottyback, Surge dottyback, Yellowhead dottyback, Ryukyu-nisesuzume,
Synonyme
Pseudochromis kikaii (Aoyagi, 1941)
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Blue-barred dottyback, Bluebarred dottyback, Surge dottyback, Yellowhead dottyback, Ryukyu-nisesuzume,
Synonyme
Pseudochromis kikaii (Aoyagi, 1941)
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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21-23; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 12 - 14. Body relatively slender; distance from dorsal-fin origin to pelvic-fin origin 25 to 28% 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 to 16, of which 3 to 5 on upper limb, and 10 or 11 (rarely 9 or 12) on lower limb. Dorsal fin with III slender spines (anterior spine easily overlooked) and 22 (rarely 21 or 23) mostly branched, segmented rays. Anal fin with III slender spines (anterior spine easily overlooked) and 13 (rarely 12) mostly branched, segmented rays. Caudal fin rounded, the upper part with 7 or 8 (rarely 6) procurrent rays and 9 principal rays, the lower part with 6 or 7 (rarely 8) procurrent rays and 8 principal rays. Pectoral fins with 17 to 19 (rarely 16 or 20) segmented rays. Pelvic fins with I spine and 5 branched, segmented rays. Lateral line disjunct, consisting of an anterodorsal series of 24 to 31 (usually 25 to 29) tubed scales extending from gill opening, and a peduncular series of 6 to 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. Max length : 6.2 cm TL. Depth range 0 - 30 m, usually 0 - 20 m.
Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21-23; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 12 - 14. Body relatively slender; distance from dorsal-fin origin to pelvic-fin origin 25 to 28% 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 to 16, of which 3 to 5 on upper limb, and 10 or 11 (rarely 9 or 12) on lower limb. Dorsal fin with III slender spines (anterior spine easily overlooked) and 22 (rarely 21 or 23) mostly branched, segmented rays. Anal fin with III slender spines (anterior spine easily overlooked) and 13 (rarely 12) mostly branched, segmented rays. Caudal fin rounded, the upper part with 7 or 8 (rarely 6) procurrent rays and 9 principal rays, the lower part with 6 or 7 (rarely 8) procurrent rays and 8 principal rays. Pectoral fins with 17 to 19 (rarely 16 or 20) segmented rays. Pelvic fins with I spine and 5 branched, segmented rays. Lateral line disjunct, consisting of an anterodorsal series of 24 to 31 (usually 25 to 29) tubed scales extending from gill opening, and a peduncular series of 6 to 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. Max length : 6.2 cm TL. Depth range 0 - 30 m, usually 0 - 20 m.
Colour
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: Greek, pseudes = false + Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch.
cyanotaenia: named from the locality type, Marshall Islands.
Original description: Pseudochromis cyanotaenia Bleeker, 1857 - Type locality: Kajeli, Buru Island, Molucca Islands, Indonesia.
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: Greek, pseudes = false + Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch.
cyanotaenia: named from the locality type, Marshall Islands.
Original description: Pseudochromis cyanotaenia Bleeker, 1857 - Type locality: Kajeli, Buru Island, Molucca Islands, Indonesia.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Indonesia east to Kiribati (Gilbert Islands) and Vanuatu, north to Ryukyu Islands, 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) - Eastern Indian Ocean from Laccadive Islands to Andaman Sea, southern Sumatra and Java and Bali.
Pseudochromis tapeinosoma (Bleeker 1853) - Indo-West Pacific: Indonesia east to Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan.
Indo-West Pacific: Indonesia east to Kiribati (Gilbert Islands) and Vanuatu, north to Ryukyu Islands, 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) - Eastern Indian Ocean from Laccadive Islands to Andaman Sea, southern Sumatra and Java and Bali.
Pseudochromis tapeinosoma (Bleeker 1853) - Indo-West Pacific: Indonesia east to Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan.