Possible Anthias (?) ID...Update Clepticus parrae.

[Anonymous]

So I saw a group of fish today that I couldn't ID. They were located in the lobby tank of the Mirage in Las Vegas.

As far as I can tell they are a Pseudanthias sp. About 6" long, and a deep purple color like a P. tuka or P. pascalus. However, these guys had a vivid vellow anal and rear dorsal fin, which I have not seen in either of these species. There also appeared to be a small black area near the head and eye. The tail was lunate. They also did not have the pointed snout that P. pascalus and tuka do. Any ideas?

Sorry but it was impossible to get a photo.

 

[Fish_dave]

It sounds a little like a new anthias that we have been bringing in from the slender anthias family. Luzonichthyis whitleyi or a close relative. Go easy on the spelling of the scientific name, I am not by a reference book right now and it is real early in the morning so my spelling may be way off. If it is this one they should have a double dorsal fin that you can see on close inspection. I have photo's that I could post but they are back in the office and I will not be there until next week. They are shaped almost like a fusilier, and seem to be fairly hardy. Color is Pink / purple with an orange stripe and orange V tail.

Dave

 

[Anonymous]

Dave,
Thanks for your input!

I'm pretty certain it's not a Luzonichthys spp. It had to be about 6" at least, which is much bigger than any slender anthias gets. Also, the dorsal fin was joined (like in Pseudanthias spp.) and not double. The more I think about it I believe it is not a Pseudanthias sp. either. Too big. Something about the way they swam too. They were much more active than most anthias, which tend to do that sort of hovering in place behavior.

It had a lunate tail also, not strongly forked like in the Pterocaesio spp.

I am totally stumped on this one. I checked Kuiter's basslet and anthias book with no luck. Maybe I'll email Scott Michael.

 

[Anonymous]

Clepticus parrae, Creole Wrasse. Anybody ever seen these offered for sale?

 

[Anonymous]

"Genus Clepticus: Here is another species we’ll mention, the Creole Wrasse, Clepticus parrae (Bloch & Schneider 1801) (3), simply because it (mis)enters the trade from time to time. This reef roamer is not often identified as a wrasse at all, as it cruises above the reefs of the tropical western Atlantic. The Creole Wrasse almost always dies in route from being shipped from the wild. To one foot in length. This one in Cancun, Mexico."

Shame. These particular ones were a very nice purple color, and appeared to be feeding and happy. I'd love to have a shoal.

 

[Anonymous]

Apparently the ones I saw were all females, or non-spawning males? A spawning male in the foreground.

Getting cleaned by Gobiosoma gobies.

Getting cleaned by a Bodianus rufus.