Cirrhilabrus wakanda Tea, Pinheiro, Sheperd & Rocha, 2019
Vibranium fairy wrasse

Family:  Labridae (Wrasses), subfamily: Cheilininae
Max. size:  7.03 cm SL (male/unsexed); 5.74 cm SL (female)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 50 - 80 m
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: Tanzania.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-9; Vertebrae: 25-25. This species is distinguished by the following characters: pelvic fins short (not or barely reaching anal-fin origin); caudal fin in males strongly lanceolate; relatively unmarked dorsal and anal fins; both sexes with a series of purple scales (alive and preserved) arranged in a chain-link pattern across dorsal two-thirds of body; both sexes with a pair of prominent facial stripes above and below the orbit (Ref. 120658).
Biology:  Occurs in deep shelves consisting of small patch reefs dominated by rhodolith and sponge beds (Ref. 120658).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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