| Family: |
Pinguipedidae (Sandperches) |
| Max. size: |
16.82 cm SL (male/unsexed); 15.89 cm (female) |
| Environment: |
pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 18 - 31 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Indian Ocean: Madagascar, southern Mozambique and South Africa; including Zanzibar. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 5-5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21-21; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 17-17; Vertebrae: 30-30. This species is distinguished by the following characters: a bright white ventral surface, without color markings on lower fourth of body; a row of 10 reddish blotches present at vertical through lower half of pectoral-fin base, the lower part of each blotch with a solid black bar ventrally. Further distinguished from its congeners by having the following characters: D V,21; A I,17; pectoral-fin rays 17-18 (mainly 17); front of lower jaw with 3 pairs of enlarged canines; pored lateral line scales 55-59 (mainly 58); total gill rakers 16-19; and a different coloration (having 3 pairs of dark broad bands on upper lip; curved black band on front of underside of chin; medium-sized orange-red irregular spots on entire dorsal surface of head; small irregular spots densely covering nape and dorsal surface of body; row of faint red blotches, on paler background, along body axis; caudal fin with two black longitudinally elongate bars on anterior half, black spots on upper and lower thirds, central third of posterior) (Ref. 95986). |
| Biology: |
|
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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