Bicoloured Dottyback, Pictichromis coralensis (Axelrod, 1973)

Scientific name: Pictichromis coralensis
Alternative name/s:
Royal Dottyback, Bicolor Cichlops, Two-colour Dottyback, Two-tone Dottyback
Similar species:
It looks similar to the Royal Dottyback, Pseudochromis paccagnellae.
Bicoloured Dottyback, Pictichromis coralensis Click to enlarge image
A Bicoloured Dottyback, Pictichromis coralensis, at a depth of 13 m, "Pixie's Pinnacle", Ribbon Reef #10, Great Barrier Reef off Cooktown, Queensland, June 2002. Many publications refer to the species as the Royal Dottyback, Pictichromis paccagnellae. This species however occurs in the Red Sea. Thank you to Dr Anthony Gill for his help with this page. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Pictichromis
    Species
    coralensis
    Family
    Pseudochromidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 7 cm in length.

Introduction

The Bicoloured Dottyback can be recognised by its distinctive colouration. The name 'coralensis' refers to the Coral Sea.

Identification

The Bicoloured Dottyback is bright purple anteriorly and changes abruptly to yellow on the back half of the fish.

Habitat

the Bicoloured Dottyback is found in coastal and offshore coral reefs.

Distribution

The species occurs in tropical marine waters of Australia and New Caledonia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. 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.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  4. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.