WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Squarespot Anthias

Pseudanthias pleurotaenia

Also known as: Anthias, Basslet, Blotched Fairy Basslet, Mirror Basslet, Pink Square Anthias, Sea Perch, Squareback Anthias, Squarebox Anthias, Squarespot Fairy Basslet

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@fishx6 · Fairy Grotto - Great Barrier Reef, Australia · July 20091 / 14
01

Overview

Found in schools, close to current swept drop-offs, reef edges, and steep slopes, of coral and rocky reefs.
Juveniles singly close to shelter.

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

Behaviour
schooling

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Country only · 14
LIVES IN

Found in schools, close to current swept drop-offs, reef edges, and steep slopes, of coral and rocky reefs.

04

Adult photos 14

05

Discussion

Comments are checked by a moderator before they appear.

No comments yet. Seen one, or got a question about it? Start the discussion.

    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderPerciformes
    5. familyAnthiadidae
    6. genusPseudanthias
    7. speciesPseudanthias pleurotaenia (Bleeker, 1857)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Fairy Basslets-Streamer Basses (Anthiadidae)