Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 10 m (Ref. 1602). Tropical; 19°N - 24°S
Indo-Pacific: Chagos Islands, Philippines, Great Barrier Reef, Fiji, and Samoa; Mariana, eastern Caroline and Marshall Islands in Micronesia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 2.3 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2334)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7 - 9; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 7 - 9. Characterized by semi-transparent head and body with white internal pigment over brain; upper surface of vertebral column white internal white stripe; ventral half of body with six faint reddish internal bars; lower half of body obscured by reddish brown to violet brown or purple streak and ending at caudal fin base; presence of brown saddles along back; all pectoral rays usually unbranched; longitudinal scale series 34-49; broad and disc-like pelvic fins, reaching to anus or beyond; opening of gill usually reaching to below rear edge of eye (Ref. 90102).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Lives on certain branching coral forms of fire coral (Millepora spp.) and on other massive corals ones (e.g. like Porites cylindrica, P. lutea) in shallow lagoons at depths of 1 to 10 m.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Myers, R.F., 1991. Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p. (Ref. 1602)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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