WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Flame Anthias

Pseudanthias ignitus

Also known as: Anthias, Basslet, Flame Basslet, Indian Flame Anthias, Indian Flame Basslet, Indian Flame Fairy Anthias, Indian Flame Fairy Basslet, Sea Perch

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@fishx6 · Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives · August 20061 / 20
01

Overview

Found singly or in harems, over clearwater outer reef slopes, and passes. Will often retreat to rocky crevices when threatened.

Anthias are often found in large schools, often in their hundreds or thousands, feeding high above the reef on zooplankton.
They start their life off as females, and when there is an opening for a male, will change to head up their harem of females.
Males are much more colourful, and often have filamentous streamers which they use for their mating dance, and to deter other males.

02

How to identify

Head & Mouth
blue eyes

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Country only · 20
LIVES IN

Found singly or in harems, over clearwater outer reef slopes, and passes.

04

Adult photos 20

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderPerciformes
    5. familyAnthiadidae
    6. genusPseudanthias
    7. speciesPseudanthias ignitus (Randall & Lubbock, 1981)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Fairy Basslets-Streamer Basses (Anthiadidae)