Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Eupercaria/misc (Various families in series Eupercaria) >
Labridae (Wrasses) > Cirrhilabrinae
Etymology: Paracheilinus: Greek, para = the side of + Greek, chaite = hair + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335); attenuatus: From the Latin attenuatus meaning drawn out or tapering, in reference to the shape of the caudal fin.
More on author: Randall.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 21 - 50 m (Ref. 41634). Tropical
Western Indian Ocean: known only from one atoll of the Amirante Islands in Seychelles and one specimen from the aquarium trade from Kenya.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 6.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 41634)
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 25. Median predorsal scales 5; horizontal scale rows on cheek below eye 2; body depth 3.2-3.55 in SL; ; head length 2.9-3.05 in SL; snout length 3.9-4.1 in HL; first dorsal soft ray of adults long and filamentous; caudal fin rounded in young, lanceolate with strongly concave upper and lower posterior margin in adults, the fin length 2.9-3.6 in SL; pelvic fin short, 1.6-1.8 in HL. Adult males in life light orange, shading to yellow ventrally, with four longitudinal lavender bands on body which link to three narrow lavender bands extending posteriorly from eye; dorsal fin yellow with a broad blue-edged red zone posteriorly in fin, the filament red. Small females with the same but narrower stripes, dark-edged blue lines dorsally on head, a large dark brown spot at base of dorsal fin below juncture of spinous and soft portions, and a small dark brown spot dorsoposteriorly on caudal peduncle.
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
Found over rubble or hard bottom (Ref. 41634). Largest size recorded is 6.58 mm SL from the aquarium trade (Ref. 41634).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
Randall, J.E., 1999. Paracheilinus attenuatus, a new labrid fish from the western Indian Ocean, with a redescription of P. piscilineatus . J. South Asian Nat. Hist. 4(1):29-38. (Ref. 41634)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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