Animal Species:Longtail Dottyback, Oxycercichthys veliferus (Lubbock, 1980)
The Longtail Dottyback can be recognised by its lanceolate tail and colouration. The species is endemic to Australia.
Alternative Name/s
Sailfin Dottyback
Identification
The Longtail Dottyback can be recognised by its lanceolate tail and colouration. Males are grey to yellowish. The top of the head is blue and there is a dark spot at the front of the dorsal fin. Females and juveniles are purplish to pinkish. The top of the head and front of the dorsal fin are yellowish.
Size range
The species grows to 12 cm in length.
Distribution
The species is endemic to Australia, occurring on coral reefs from the northern to southern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Distribution by collection data
Ozcam map of Longtail Dottyback specimens in the Australian Museums.
Classification
- Species:
- veliferus
- Genus:
- Oxycercichthys
- Family:
- Pseudochromidae
- Order:
- Perciformes
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
Mark McGrouther
, Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:
Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Longtail Dottyback, Oxycercichthys veliferus, Pseudochromidae, endemic to Australia, Sailfin Dottyback, lanceolate tail, blue head, dots/spots, dark spot, 10 cm - 30 cm, Great Barrier Reef, marine,