| Labridae (Wrasses), subfamily: Cheilininae |
| 8.51 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
|
reef-associated; marine; depth range 5 - 32 m |
| Western Pacific: Papua New Guinea and the Solomons. |
|
Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-9. This species has the following characters: D XI, 9; A III, 9; pectoral rays 15; lateral-line scales 14-17 + 6-9; median predorsal scales 6; cheek below eye with horizontal scale rows of 2; gill rakers 17-20; body depth 3.0-3.1 in SL; head length 3.1-3.3 in SL; snout length 3.6-4.0 in head; adult male with median head profile slightly concave at interorbital; rounded caudal fin; males with elongate and filamentous pelvic fins, reaching level of posterior half of anal fin; live colour pattern of terminal phase (male) includes a general purplish body, grading to blue ventrally and greenish or yellowish brown dorsally, with a broad purple stripe along the basal half of the otherwise pale yellow dorsal fin, and a thin purple bar across the violet-coloured pectoral-fin base; color in initial phase mainly dull purplish red with a small blackish spot on dorsal portion of caudal peduncle (Ref. 78106). |
| Found solitary or in groups in rubble areas near lagoons and seaward slopes (Ref. 90102). |
|
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 25 March 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
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