Lord Howe Sandy, Novaculops pastellus Randall, Earle & Rocha 2008


Other Names: Pastel Razorfish

A male Lord Howe Sandy, Novaculops pastellus, from Middleton Reef, Tasman Sea, depth 10 m - Paratype BPBM 35027, 117 mm SL . Source: John E. Randall / FishBase. License: CC BY Attribution-Noncommercial

Summary:

A rare razorfish known only from the Lord Howe Island region in the Tasman Sea. The Lord Howe Sandy inhabits open sandy bottoms, and dives quickly into the sand when threatened. 

Males are pale grey above, whitish below, with greenish-grey scale edges and white lateral line pores. They have black membranes between dorsal-fin spines 6 & 7, dark pigment extending obliquely to lateral line, transverse dusky bands on the lower part of the head, and a red iris.

Females are pale bluish-green, with white lateral line pores and dark orange to reddish scale edges that become fine vertical lines on the abdomen.


Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2020, Novaculops pastellus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 28 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4850

Lord Howe Sandy, Novaculops pastellus Randall, Earle & Rocha 2008

More Info


Distribution

Known only from Lord Howe Island, and the nearby Elizabeth and Middleton reefs in the Tasman Sea off eastern Australia. Depth range 10-25 m. Inhabits open sandy bottoms, and dives quickly into the sand when threatened - and can move through the sand by undulating the body.

Features

Dorsal fin IX, 12; Anal fin III, 12 (all branched); Caudal fin 12 principal rays; Pectoral fin 13; Pelvic fin I, 5; Lateral-line scales 20 + 5; Gill rakers 18-20; Vertebrae 25.

Conservation

  • IUCN Red List : Least Concern
  • Etymology

    The specific name is from the Latin pastellus, in reference to the soft and subdued colours of this species.

    Species Citation

    Xyrichtys pastellus Randall, Earle & Rocha, 2008, aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology 14(3): 150, Figs. 1-3. Type locality: Lord Howe Island, near Admiralty Islands [ca. 31°28'S, 159°04'E].

    Author

    Bray, D.J. 2020

    Resources

    Atlas of Living Australia

    Lord Howe Sandy, Novaculops pastellus Randall, Earle & Rocha 2008

    References


    Allen, G.R., Hoese, D.F., Paxton, J.R., Randall, J.E., Russell, B.C., Starck, W.A., Talbot, F.H. & Whitley, G.P. 1976. Annotated checklist of the fishes of Lord Howe Island. Records of the Australian Museum 30(15): 365-454 figs 1-2 (as Hemipteronotus sp.)

    Francis, M. 1993. Checklist of the coastal fishes of Lord Howe, Norfolk, and Kermadec Islands, southwest Pacific Ocean. Pacific Science 47(2): 136-170 figs 1-2 (as Novaculops sp.)

    Francis, M.P. & Randall, J.E. 1993. Further additions to the fish faunas of Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands, southwest Pacific Ocean. Pacific Science 47(2): 118-135 figs 1-22 pls 1-4 (as Novaculops sp.) http://hdl.handle.net/10125/1754

    Kuiter, R.H. 2010. Labridae fishes: wrasses. Seaford, Victoria, Australia : Aquatic Photographics 398 pp. (as Novaculops woodi which was treated as a senior synonym of N. pastellus

    Randall, J.E. 2013. Seven new species of labrid fishes fishes (Coris, Iniistius, Macropharyngodon, Navaculops, and Pteragogus) from the Western Indian Ocean.Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation 7: 1-43. http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1041964

    Randall, J.E., Earle, J.E. & Rocha, L.A. 2008. Xyrichtys pastellus, a new razorfish from the southwest Pacific, with discussion of the related X. sciistius and X. woodi. aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology 14(3): 149-158.

    Yeeting, B., Rocha, L. & Russell, B. 2010. Xyrichtys pastellus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T187629A8584906. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187629A8584906.en. Downloaded on 30 October 2019.

    Quick Facts


    CAAB Code:37384205

    Biology:Hermaphrodite

    Conservation:IUCN Least Concern

    Depth:10-25 m

    Habitat:Reef associated, sandy bottom

    Max Size:12 cm SL

    Species Image Gallery

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    CAAB distribution map