WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Purple Anthias

Mirolabrichthys tuka

Also known as: Amethyst Anthias, Basslet, Purple Queen, Purple Queen Anthias, Purple Queenfish, Sea Perch, Yellowfin Anthias, Yellowstripe Anthias, Yellow-striped Fairy Basslet

Adult
@fishx6 · Admiral Anchor - Coral Sea, Australia · July 20091 / 12
01

Overview

Found in schools, feeding in the water column, high above outer reef slopes.

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.

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How to identify

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Exact location · 1
  • Country only · 11
LIVES IN

Found in schools, feeding in the water column, high above outer reef slopes.

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Adult photos 12

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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. speciesMirolabrichthys tuka Herre & Montalban, 1927

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Fairy Basslets-Streamer Basses (Anthiadidae)