Luzonichthys whitleyi (Smith, 1955)
Whitley's splitfin
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Anthiadidae (Fairy basslets or Streamer basses)
Max. size:  5.8 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 200 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean; Line, Phoenix, and Loyalty islands in central Pacific, New Caledonia and Palau.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-16; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Differs from L. waitei by having smaller scales and from L. earlei and L. waitei by having a deeper body depth and slightly different coloration (Ref. 37816). Description: Characterized by bright yellow snout, dorsal surface of head and back, lavander pink over remainder of head and body; forked caudal fin without filamentous lobes; greatest depth of body 4.2-5.0 in SL; pectoral fins 3.6-4.4 in SL; pelvic fins 4.8-5.8 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Forms a feeding aggregations on zooplankton. Often with Pseudanthias bartlettorum, P.dispar and Lepidozygus tapeinosoma (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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