Nemipterus elaine Russell & Gouws, 2020
Elaine's threadfin bream

Family:  Nemipteridae (Threadfin breams, Whiptail breams)
Max. size:  14.78 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 116 - 120 m
Distribution:  Indian Ocean, Mozambique Channel.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-7. This species is distinguished by the following characters: pectoral-fin rays ii,14 (ii,13-15); gill rakers 14 (13-15); body is moderately elongate, its depth 3.0 (2.9-3.2) in SL; head length about equal to body depth, its depth 1.0 in head length; diameter of eye about equal to or a little more than snout length, 1.0 (0.8-0.9) in snout; lower margin of the eye tangent to a line from tip of snout to upper pectoral fin base; suborbital is shallow, its lower edge emarginate, least depth 2.6 (2.4-2.6) in eye diameter; imaginary line extended upward from posterior edge of suborbital reaching dorsal profile about 5-6 scale rows before origin of the dorsal fin; pectoral fins are moderately long, reaching to about level of vent; pelvic fins are very long, reaching to between level of vent and origin of anal fin; upper lobe of caudal fin is produced into short filamentous extension (Ref. 128294), Description: Colouration: the head and upper part of body are pinkish; cheeks and body with golden reflections; pinkish mauve mid-laterally; silvery on belly; suborbital whitish; preopercle and opercle are silvery with golden reflections, traces of iridescent mauve on cheeks behind subopercle and lower limb of opercle; eye reddish-orange; dorsal fin translucent pale blue, the upper margin of fin with yellow edge and a yellow band from just above base of first spine, extending along middle of fin, broadening behind last dorsal spine; anal fin translucent pale blue, with row of yellow spots on lower one third of fin membrane behind third anal spine; caudal fin is pale reddish, uppermost three rays sulphur yellow, extending onto caudal filament; pectoral fins are transparent pinkish; pelvic fins are translucent, yellow on base of fin and axillary scale (Ref. 128294).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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