Purple Queen, Pseudanthias tuka (Herre & Montalban, 1927)

Scientific name: Pseudanthias tuka
Alternative name/s:
Purple Queenfish, Purple Anthias
Male Purple Queen,<i> Pseudanthias tuka</i> Click to enlarge image
A male Purple Queen at a depth of 15m, Tijou Reef, far northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, December 1999. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Pseudanthias
    Species
    tuka
    Family
    Serranidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 12 cm in length.

Introduction

The colouration of the Purple Queen differs between the sexes. In Australia, the Purple Queen is known from the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

Identification

The colouration of the Purple Queen differs between the sexes. Both males and females are deep pink to purple, however females have a bright yellow stripe on the back that extends onto the caudal fin. Males have a purple blotch on the base of the soft dorsal fin and elongated soft dorsal fin rays.

Female Purple Queen
A female Purple Queen at a depth of 20m, Kimbe Bay, New Britain, Papua New Guinea, 20 October 2008. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Habitat

The Purple Queen is usually seen in large aggregations along the upper edge of drop-offs and steep outer reef slopes. This fish is usually seen at depths of 7 m to 25 m.

Purple Queen in Kimbe Bay
A female Purple Queen at a depth of 20 m, Kimbe Bay, New Britain, Papua New Guinea, 20 October 2008. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Distribution

It occurs in tropical marine waters of South-east Asia, from the Philippines to Australia and east to Fiji and the Society Islands. In Australia, the Purple Queen is known from the 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.

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. Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
  5. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.