| Family: |
Pempheridae (Sweepers) |
| Max. size: |
6.7 cm SL (male/unsexed); 5 cm SL (female) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 16 - 61 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Indian Ocean: wide-ranging from South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal) and Mozambique to the Comoro Islands, northern Madagascar, Seychelles, the Mascarene Ridge, and the Mascarene Island of Réunion. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 6-6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 20-23. This species is characterized by the following: D VI,9; A III,21 (20-23); pectoral-fin rays 16 (15-17); lateral-line scales 69 (63-72); scale rows above lateral line to base of dorsal fin 5.5; gill rakers 24 (23-26, modally 25); body depth 3.2 (3.25-3.35) in SL, width 2.1 (2.0-2.2) in body depth; depth of caudal-peduncle 10.4 (8.9-9.6) in SL; head length 2.95 (2.8-2.9) in SL; snout length 11.4-13.0 in SL; mouth forming an angle of about 60° to horizontal axis of body; sharply conical, recurved teeth in 2 irregular rows in upper row more forward-projecting, those of second row more strongly recurved; similar smaller teeth in lower jaw, well-spaced, in a single row; very small, incurved, sharply conical teeth in a single irregular row on vomer and palatines; thin lips, covered with closely adjacent papillae; tongue broadly triangular, indented indented on side near tip, forming a small, half-round, flexible flap; predorsal length 2.3 (2.3-2.4) in SL; first dorsal-fin soft ray is longest, 5.3 (4.7-5.4) in SL; caudal fin forked with fin length 4.5 (3.6-4.3) in SL; pectoral-fin length 3.5 (3.25-3.6) in SL; prepelvic length 2.7 (2.5-2.7) in SL; pelvic fins not reaching the anus, fin length 5.9 (5.1-6.5) in SL; preanal length 1.5 (1.5-1.6) in SL; without a pin-like dark line anterior to anus; instead a very dark blue band with a median dull pink streak that narrows anteriorly; black iris in preserved holotype (Ref. 107896). |
| Biology: |
Stomach contents include a half-digested polychaete about 45 mm by 5 mm, along with copepods, crustacean larvae, and small fishes (Ref. 107896). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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