WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Purple Queen

Mirolabrichthys pascalus

Also known as: Amethyst Anthias, Anthias, Basslet, Purple Anthias, Purple Basslet, Purple Queen Anthias, Sailfin Queen, Sea Perch

Adult
@fishx6 · Admiral Anchor - Coral Sea, Australia · July 20091 / 2
01

Overview

Found in large schools, in caves, and around coral outcrops and outer reef slopes, of oceanic islands.

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

COLOURS

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Pacific Ocean
  • Country only · 2
LIVES IN

Found in large schools, in caves, and around coral outcrops and outer reef slopes, of oceanic islands.

04

Adult photos 2

05

Discussion 1

Comments are checked by a moderator before they appear.

1 comment

  • Caea· 18 Nov 2015

    I love the purple queen fish so so so so much.It is so pretty.

ALL STAGES
FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

Deep dive

Taxonomy

  1. kingdomAnimalia
  2. phylumChordata
  3. classTeleostei
  4. orderPerciformes
  5. familyAnthiadidae
  6. genusPseudanthias
  7. speciesMirolabrichthys pascalus (Jordan & Tanaka, 1927)

SourcesWoRMSFishBase

06

More in the family

Fairy Basslets-Streamer Basses (Anthiadidae)