Blue Blanquillo, Malacanthus latovittatus (Lacépède 1801)


Other Names: Blue Tilefish, Sand Tilefish

A Blue Blanquillo, Malacanthus latovittatus, at Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia. Source: Ian V. Shaw / Reef Life Survey. License: CC by Attribution

Summary:
A bluish tilefish with a broad dark midlateral band and a white terminal blotch on the tail. Juveniles have a black midlateral band from the tip of the snout to the tail. The Blue Blanquillo usually hovers above the bottom on outer reef slopes.

Cite this page as:
Dianne J. Bray, Malacanthus latovittatus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 19 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4244

Blue Blanquillo, Malacanthus latovittatus (Lacépède 1801)

More Info


Distribution

Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia to Ashmore Reef, Timor Sea, and the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, to Seal Rocks, New South Wales; also Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. Elsewhere, the species occurs on the tropical Indo-west Pacific.
Inhabits outer reef slopes, usually seen hovering above the bottom.

Author

Dianne J. Bray

Blue Blanquillo, Malacanthus latovittatus (Lacépède 1801)

References


Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp.

Allen, G.R. Smith-Vaniz, W.F. 1994. Fishes of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin 412: 21 pp.

Allen, G.R. & Steene, R.C. 1988. Fishes of Christmas Island Indian Ocean. Christmas Island Natural History Association, Christmas Island, Indian Ocean, 6798, Australia. 197 pp.

Dooley, J.K. 1978. Systematics and biology of the tilefishes (Perciformes: Branchiostegidae and Malacanthidae) with descriptions of two new species. NOAA Tech. Rep. NMFS Circ. No. 411: 1-78. 

Gloerfelt-Tarp, T. & Kailola, P.J. 1984. Trawled Fishes of Southern Indonesia and Northwest Australia. Jakarta : Dir. Gen. Fish. (Indonesia), German Tech. Coop., Aust. Dev. Ass. Bur. 406 pp.

Kuiter, R.H. 1992. Tropical reef-fishes of the western Pacific Indonesia and adjacent waters. Gramedia Pustaka Utama, Jakarta. 314 pp.

Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steen, R.C. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. University of Hawaii Press. 164 pp. 

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37331010

Behaviour:Burrowing

Depth:6-15 m

Habitat:Reef associated

Max Size:45 cm TL

Species Image Gallery

Species Maps

CAAB distribution map