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Pseudojuloides mesostigma Randall & Randall, 1981 Sidespot wrasse |
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photo by
Randall, J.E. |
| Family: | Labridae (Wrasses), subfamily: Corinae | |||
| Max. size: | 7 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | reef-associated; marine; depth range 25 - 45 m | |||
| Distribution: | Western Pacific: Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Recently recorded from Tonga (Ref. 53797). | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 12-12; Vertebrae: 15-15. Male body orangish brown dorsally, whitish ventrally; spots on body may diffuse to form a midlateral band; large black spot in middle of body continuous with the large black area of the dorsal fin. 10-11 median predorsal rays; 6-8 suborbital pores; 8-11 pores on free margin of preopercle; 3 pores anterior to orbit. Females pink like other species of the genus (Ref. 48636). | |||
| Biology: | Lives in very deep water, usually in depth 30-40 m or more (Ref. 48636). Occurs solitary or in pairs (Ref. 90102) in open rubble bottoms with small corals (Ref. 2140). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 July 2008 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||