Mirror Basslet, Pseudanthias pleurotaenia (Bleeker, 1857)

Scientific name: Pseudanthias pleurotaenia
Alternative name/s:
Blotched Fairy Basslet, Squarespot Anthias
Pseudanthias pleurotaenia Click to enlarge image
A male Mirror Basslet at a depth of 25m, North Ambae, Vanuatu, July 2003. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Pseudanthias
    Species
    pleurotaenia
    Family
    Serranidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to about 20 cm in length.

Introduction

Male Mirror Basslets can be recognised by the violet-coloured square on the side of the body and the long third dorsal fin spine.

Identification

Male Mirror Basslets can be recognised by the violet-coloured square on the side of the body and the long third dorsal fin spine. Females and juveniles are yellow to orange with two violet to red stripes across the cheek and along the ventral surface of the body. Both sexes have a lunatecaudal fin.

Pseudanthias pleurotaenia
A male Mirror Basslet at a depth of 25m, North Ambae, Vanuatu, July 2003. Image: E. Schlögl
© E. Schlögl

Habitat

The species is usually seen at depths greater than 20 m.

Distribution

The species occurs in coral reef and inshore tropical waters of the East Indian to Central Pacific Oceans. In Australia the Mirror Basslet is known from the offshore islands of north-western Western Australia and north-eastern 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.

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.