| Family: |
Grammistidae (Soapfishes) |
| Max. size: |
8.6 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 40 m, |
| Distribution: |
Western Central Atlantic: Caribbean. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 3-4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-26; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 13-15. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following unique set of characters: pectoral fin and distal portions of soft dorsal, caudal, and anal fins are pale yellow to yellow in life, pale in preservative; numerous dark spots on head and trunk, size of spots variable but those on head posterior to horizontal through center of orbit almost always smaller than pupil; interorbital region usually with 2 dark spots at posterior end, spots set slightly apart from orbital rim; belly with dark spots; caudal fin and sometimes soft dorsal and anal fins often with at least a few, sometimes tiny, dark spots; dorsal-fin spines 3 or 4 (almost always 4); total dorsal-fin elements modally 25; pectoral-fin rays modally 15; total caudal-fin rays modally 23; lower jaw extending anteriorly beyond upper jaw, mean difference between distance from tip of lower jaw to orbit and tip of upper jaw to orbit 5% head length (HL); relatively narrow caudal peduncle, average depth 11% SL (Ref. 89885). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits clear tropical , mean maximum depth of collected specimens was 17 m, only 6 specimens were collected at depths less than 5 m. This species lives among coral or rocks on steep slopes, vertical walls, or in other areas with large vertical relief, however, a few specimens have been taken among coral heads in shallow flat areas (Ref. 89885). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 23 August 2012 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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