Longfin Basslet, Pseudanthias ventralis (Randall 1979)
Other Names: Longfin Anthias, Ventralis Anthias
A male Longfin Basslet, Pseudanthias ventralis, at Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, depth 61m, February 2004. Source: @uwkwaj / iNaturalist.org. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial
Summary:
In Australia, males are overall steely purple with a mostly yellow head, a reticulated yellow pattern with blotches and lines on the back, a yellow dorsal fin with red anterior soft rays and a purple line between the two colours, and a purple margin. The anal fin has yellowish rays with a purple margin along the leading edge. The caudal fin has an indistinct red blotch or bar near the rear margin, with purple upper and lower margins. Females are steely purple with a yellow dorsal fin that extends onto the back to the caudal peduncle, and is separated from the purple body colour by a red arched stripe.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2024, Pseudanthias ventralis in Fishes of Australia, accessed 12 Sep 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4387
Longfin Basslet, Pseudanthias ventralis (Randall 1979)
More Info
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Distribution |
Northern Great Barrier Reef, and Holmes Reef in the Coral Sea, Queensland. Elsewhere the species occurs across much of Oceania. Inhabits caves and coral rubble areas along steep drop-offs or channel walls. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin X,16-18; Anal fin III,9; Pectoral fin 15 (most rays branched); Pelvic fin 1,5; Principal caudal fin rays 15, branched rays 7+6; Lateral line scales 39-46; Scales above lateral line to origin of dorsal fin 4-5; Scales below lateral line to origin of anal fin 18-19; Circumpeduncular scales 20-22; Gill rakers 7-8 + 21-24; Pseudobranchial filaments 9-10; Branchiostegal rays 7; Vertebrae 26. Body depth: 2.85-3.15 in SL. Margin of subopercle serrate, of interopercle smooth; Caudal fin deeply emarginate; Pelvic fins very long, reaching beyond spinous portion of anal fin. |
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Size |
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Colour |
Oblique red to purple stripe from behind upper part of eye to upper part of head. |
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Remarks |
The species is variable in colour pattern across its range, with three distinct colour morphs that are separated geographically. |
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Etymology |
The specific name is from the Latin ventralis (= of or pertaining to the belly) 'in reference to the striking prolongation of the pelvic and anal fins'. |
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Species Citation |
Anthias (Pseudanthias) ventralis ventralis Randall 1979, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History Contributions in Science 302: 12, fig. 7. Type locality: Patch reef on northern side off Gannet Ridge, Pitcairn Island, depth 40-44 m. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2024 |
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Resources |
Longfin Basslet, Pseudanthias ventralis (Randall 1979)
References
Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 292 pp. 106 pls.
Allen, G.R. & Starck, W.A. 1982. The anthiid fishes of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, with the description of a new species. Revue Française d'Aquariologie et Herpétologie 9(2): 47-56 figs 1-28
Gill, A.C. 2024. Compsanthias, new genus of Pacific Anthiadidae (Teleostei). Zootaxa 5463(3): 360-374, https://doi.org/10.11646/ZOOTAXA.5463.3.3
Kuiter, R.H. 2004. Basslets, Hamlets and their relatives. A comprehensive guide to selected Serranidae and Plesiopidae. Chorleywood, UK : TMC Publishing 1, 216 pp.
Randall, J.E. 1979. A review of the serranid fish genus Anthias of the Hawaiian Islands, with descriptions of two new species. Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History Contributions in Science 302: 1-13 figs 1-7 See ref at BHL
Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 507 pp. figs.
Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 557 pp. figs.
Tea, Y.-K. 2015. Diversity and forms of the Pseudanthias ventralis species flock: How many are there? in reef builders, accessed 01 mar 2022. https://reefbuilders.com/2015/03/29/diversity-forms-pseudanthias-ventralis-species-flock/
