WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Townsend's Anthias

Pseudanthias townsendi

Also known as: Anthias, Basslet, Sea Perch, Townsend's Basslet

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2018
Adult
@simon7718 · Fujairah, United Arab Emirates · February 20131 / 1
01

Overview

Found in harems, sometimes mixed with other Anthias, over mud and rocky bottoms of deepwater reefs.
Western Indian Ocean - Persian Gulf

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

Pattern
stripes
Behaviour
harems

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Indian Ocean
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found in harems, sometimes mixed with other Anthias, over mud and rocky bottoms of deepwater reefs.

04

Adult photos 1

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 townsendi (Boulenger, 1897)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Fairy Basslets-Streamer Basses (Anthiadidae)