Cirrhilabrus rubeus Victor, 2016
Ruby longfin fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus rubeus
photo by Tanaka, H.

Family:  Labridae (Wrasses), subfamily: Cheilininae
Max. size:  5.35 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine
Distribution:  Central Indian Ocean: from Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-9. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D XI,9; A III,9; pectoral-fin rays 15; pored lateral-line scales 15-17 + 6-8 (+1 over caudal-fin base); median predorsal scales 3-4; cheek with 5 or 6 scales in single row, just below eye; with uniserial row of suborbital pores; gill rakers 13-15. Morphometrics for males in terminal phase: body depth 3.7-3.8 in SL; body width in depth 2.0; head length 3.0-3.4 in SL; first two dorsal-fin spinous membranes are greatly elongated and filamentous, 1.6-3.4 and 1.3-3.0 in SL, respectively; rounded caudal fin with extended upper and lower tips, 1.1-1.3 in HL; pelvic fins greatly elongated and broadly fan-like, reaching posteriorly to about middle of anal fin, 2.0-2.1 in SL; upper head and body bright red to red-orange, divided from whitish lower head and body by a usually unbroken, bluish to lavender full-length stripe; anterior part of dorsal fin reddish, rear of fin dark basally and yellowish distally (variable extent of yellow on fin), divided mid-way out by a dark-outlined blue stripe breaking into spots (after a variable distance) posteriorly; caudal fin with blue-green sheen and numerous small bluish spots and lines; anal fin is reddish to dark with an often incomplete row of bluish spots near base of fin; pelvic fins are greatly elongated and mostly red on outer portion and mostly black on inner rays, with black streaks typically extending full length, with black fin tips (Ref. 114940).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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