Pseudojuloides mesostigma Randall & Randall, 1981
Sidespot wrasse
Pseudojuloides mesostigma
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Labridae (Wrasses), subfamily: Corinae
Max. size:  7 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 25 - 45 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Recently recorded from Tonga (Ref. 53797).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 12-12; Vertebrae: 15-15. Male body orangish brown dorsally, whitish ventrally; spots on body may diffuse to form a midlateral band; large black spot in middle of body continuous with the large black area of the dorsal fin. 10-11 median predorsal rays; 6-8 suborbital pores; 8-11 pores on free margin of preopercle; 3 pores anterior to orbit. Females pink like other species of the genus (Ref. 48636).
Biology:  Lives in very deep water, usually in depth 30-40 m or more (Ref. 48636). Occurs solitary or in pairs (Ref. 90102) in open rubble bottoms with small corals (Ref. 2140).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 July 2008 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.