Plesiops cephalotaenia Inger, 1955
Headstripe longfin
Plesiops cephalotaenia
photo by Miyahara, H.

Family:  Plesiopidae (Roundheads), subfamily: Plesiopinae
Max. size:  7.7 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 12 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Japan south to Australia; east to Solomon Is.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-7; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-10. Description: Characterized by generally brown color with diffuse mottling; pair of dark marks behind eye, another on side of snout; narrow dark band below eye; opercle with diffuse orange area; rows of dark brown spots corresponding with horizontal scale rows; spinous part of dorsal fin with yellow tips; tubed lateral line scales 18-20+7-13; midlateral scale series 23-25; cheek scale rows 3-4 (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Adults occur inshore (Ref. 7300) at depths of 12 m or less in dead coral, reef flats, and on coral heads, habitats with somewhat less wave energy (Ref. 27772). Eggs are guarded by the male parent (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 22 April 2022 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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