Pseudanthias squamipinnis (Peters, 1855)
Sea goldie
Pseudanthias squamipinnis
photo by Kamy Yeung@114°E Hong Kong Reef Fish Survey

Family:  Anthiadidae (Fairy basslets or Streamer basses)
Max. size:  15 cm TL (male/unsexed); 7 cm TL (female)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 55 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and Natal, South Africa to Niue (Ref. 37816), north to Japan, south to Australia. Recorded from Europa Island (MNHN 1992-0508).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-17; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 6-7. Color patterns vary from one locality to another. Description: Characterized by female having violet-edged orange stripe behind eye; fleshy protuberance at front of upper lip absent in male; prolonged third dorsal spine of female, elongate in male; lunate caudal fin (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Adults are found above coral outcrops or patch reefs of clear lagoons, channels, or outer reef slopes. Form large aggregations. Feed on zooplankton (Ref. 6113). A protogynous hermaphrodite (Ref. 55367). Males are territorial and haremic (Ref. 9710). Color patterns and size of sexual transition very slightly from one locality to the next. Total length for females from Ref. 9137.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Reported from Phuket (Ref. 37773).


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