Luzonichthys earlei Randall, 1981
Earle's splitfin
Luzonichthys earlei
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Anthiadidae (Fairy basslets or Streamer basses)
Max. size:  5.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 15 - 205 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Maldives, Christmas Islands, New Britain, Marshalls, Hawaiian Islands, throughout Micronesia (Ref. 37816).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-17; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-7. Description: Characterized by yellow orange on snout, upper head and back, pink or magenta over remainder of body; cheek, operculum and middle of side with silvery reflections; greatest depth of body 3.6-4.1 in SL; deeply forked caudal fin; pectoral fins 3.6-4.0 in SL; pelvic fins 4.4-5.2 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Occur in large zooplankton feeding aggregations along steep outer reef slopes (Ref. 37816). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Postlarvae are caught with midwater trawl. Apparently preyed upon by Pristipomoides filamentosus (Ref. 8524). This species has been collected at Kwajalein Atoll at depths of 46-55 m (Ref. 37816).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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