Spotgill Longfin, Plesiops corallicola Bleeker 1853


Other Names: Bluegill Longfin, Coral Devilfish, Redspined Devilfish

A Spotgill Longfin, Plesiops corallicola, at Mortlock Islands, Federal States of Micronesia. Source: Gerald R. Allen / FishBase. License: All rights reserved

Summary:
A greyish to dark brown longfin covered in small blue spots, with a blue stripe on the dorsal fin, and a blue ocellus on the edge of the gill cover. Some paler individuals have black blotches on the body.
Known from the Australian territories of Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean.

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2018, Plesiops corallicola in Fishes of Australia, accessed 29 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/5143

Spotgill Longfin, Plesiops corallicola Bleeker 1853

More Info


Distribution

Recorded from Australian territories of Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean. The species does not occur in waters of mainland Australia. Occurs elsewhere in the East-Indo-west Pacific.
A secretive nocturnal species found in crevices, holes and under rocks during the day on outer reef areas.

Features

Dorsal fin XII, 7-8; Anal fin III, 8; pectoral fin 20-22; Gill rakers (total) 12-17; Lateral line scales (tubed) 18-21 + 7-14; Midlateral scales series 23-25; Cheek scales rows 4-6. 

Feeding

Feeds on invertebrates.

Biology

Females lay demersal eggs that are guarded by the male parent until the larvae hatch.

Etymology

The specific name corallicola refers to the coral reef habitat of this species.

Species Citation

Plesiops corallicola Bleeker, 1853, Natuurwetensch. Tijdschr. Nederland. Indië 4: 280. Type locality: Pariaman, Sumatra, Indonesia (as Priaman).

Author

Bray, D.J. 2018

Resources

Australian Faunal Directory

Spotgill Longfin, Plesiops corallicola Bleeker 1853

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 Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin 412: 1-21.

Allen, G.R., Steene, R., Human, P. & Deloach, N. 2003. Reef Fish Identification Tropical Pacific. Jacksonville, Florida : New World Publications, Inc. 457 pp.

Allen, G.R., Steene, R.C. & Orchard, M. 2007. Fishes of Christmas Island. Christmas Island : Christmas Island Natural History Association 2 edn, 284 pp.

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

Bleeker, P. 1853. Diagnostische beschrijvingen van nieuwe of weinig bekende vischsoorten van Sumatra. Tiental V–X. Natuurwetenschappelijk Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsch Indië 4: 243-302.

Kuiter, R.H. 2004. Basslets, Hamlets and their relatives. A comprehensive guide to selected Serranidae and Plesiopidae. Chorleywood, UK : TMC Publishing 1, 216 pp.

Mooi, R.D. 1995. Revision, phylogeny, and discussion of biology and biogeography of the fish genus Plesiops (Perciformes: Plesiopidae). Royal Ontario Museum Life Sciences Contributions 159: 1-107. See ref. at BHL

Randall, J.E. 2005. Reef and shore fishes of the South Pacific. New Caledonia to Tahiti and the Pitcairn Islands. Honolulu : University of Hawaii Press 707 pp.

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37316014

Depth:1-23 m

Fishing:Aquarium fish

Habitat:Reef associated

Max Size:18 cm TL

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Species Maps

CAAB distribution map