|
Hoplolatilus fronticinctus (Günther, 1887) Pastel tilefish |
|
|
photo by
Dubosc, J. |
| Family: | Malacanthidae (Tilefishes) | |||
| Max. size: | 21 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | reef-associated; marine; depth range 40 - 70 m | |||
| Distribution: | Indo-West Pacific: off Kosi Bay in South Africa (Ref. 11228) eastward to the Solomon Islands, north to the Philippines, Palau, and the Marshall Islands (Ref. 33390). | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-13; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 12-12; Vertebrae: 24-24. Body pale olive-grey, darker above, belly pale blue; bluish violet band joining eyes across front of snout; lips and cheeks blue; upper 1/3 of pectoral fins bluish white, remainder pale yellow (Ref. 5591). This rare species has the deepest body in the genus and a thicker tail than H. cuniculus and H. starcki (Ref. 37816). Description: Greatest depth of body 3.5-4.2 in SL (Ref. 90102). | |||
| Biology: | Inhabits sandy areas at bases of reefs (Ref. 9710). A rare species that schools above huge mounds of rubble that it apparently builds (up to 5.5 m long x 3 m wide over 1 m high). Solitary or in pairs (Ref 90102). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 November 2023 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||