Teleostei (teleosts) >
Ovalentaria/misc (Various families in series Ovalentaria) >
Pseudochromidae (Dottybacks) > Pseudochrominae
Etymology: Pseudochromis: Greek, pseudes = false + Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch (Ref. 45335); matahari: The specific epithet is from the Indonesian for sun, and alludes to the sunburst-like live coloration. To be treated as a noun in apposition (Ref. 80681).
Eponymy: Perhaps disappointingly, this name has nothing to do with the Dutch spy and exotic dancer Margreet MacLeod – better known by her stage name Mata Hari – but derives from an Indonesian term for ‘sun’, with reference to the fish’s coloration. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on authors: Gill, Erdmann & Allen.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic, usually 32 - 45 m (Ref. 80681). Tropical; 2°N - 1°N, 127°E - 128°E
Western Pacific: Indonesia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 4.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 80681)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 16. This species is distinguished from all other pseudochromines by the following characters: D III,26; A III,16; anal-fin spines are moderately slender and weakly pungent, the second spine only slightly stouter than the third; lower lip is weakly interrupted at symphysis; circumpeduncular scales 16. Colouration: when alive the head is orange-brown, becoming bright yellow on lower part of operculum; posterior and ventral part of the orbital rim bright yellow, edged posteriorly and ventrally by purple-blue arc; scales of cheek are indistinctly edged with mauve; body orange-brown, darker on the scale-edges, becoming bright yellow on breast and pectoral-fin base, bright red on abdomen and above anterior anal fin, then dark purplish red on caudal peduncle; dorsal fin is golden to orange-brown anteriorly, becoming reddish brown posteriorly, with reddish brown distal margin; middle of soft portion of fin with 1-3 rows of short, dark reddish brown streaks; anal fin dark reddish brown, becoming golden brown over the spinous portion of fin, with grey distal margin; caudal fin is dark reddish grey basally, abruptly greyish hyaline on distal third of fin, with grey distal margin (Ref. 80681).
Solitary under large Xestospongia barrel sponges on gradual, current-swept reef slopes in 32-45 m, sometimes in pairs (Ref 90102).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Gill, A.C., M.V. Erdmann and G.R. Allen, 2009. Pseudochromis matahari, a new species of dottyback (Perciformes: Pseudochromidae) from Halmahera, Indonesia. aqua, Int. J. Ichthyol. 15(1):45-48. (Ref. 80681)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00501 (0.00193 - 0.01299), b=3.10 (2.88 - 3.32), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
