Paraplesiops bleekeri, commonly known as the eastern blue devil, blue-tipped long-fin or Bleeker's blue devil fish, is a species of fish in the family Plesiopidae. This colourful, secretive fish is endemic to Australia, where it is a protected species.
This species grows to 40 cm, and is recognizable by blue and white bands on the body, blue spots on the head, and blue dorsal and anal fins.[4] It also has a yellow base, pectoral, and caudal fins. The pelvic, posterior dorsal, and anal fins are all elongated.[5][6]
This species is a close relative of the southern blue devil (Paraplesiops meleagris), which lives in the colder southern Australian waters.[1]
The fish is found in coastal waters of eastern Australia between the Gold Coast of southern Queensland and Montague Island,[1] most commonly between Sydney and Ulladulla.[5]
This species is shy and secretive. Males have appeared to defend territories in caves or overhangs, where it remains to attract females and drive males away.[5] They are most active at night.
Paraplesiops bleekeri are benthic coastal reef inhabitants.[4] They live inside caves, under ledges and overhangs in reefs and estuaries.[4][7] They were considered to inhabit waters ranging from 3 to 30 metres in depth,[1][5] and are most often encountered in shallow waters less than 20 metres, however, recent observations suggest they also inhabit offshore reefs down to at least 50 metres.[4]
This fish is known to eat brittle stars.
This species is protected under the laws of New South Wales Fisheries, in particular, the Fisheries Management Act 1994.[4] It is illegal to collect or possess them without a permit.[1][5]
They are protected because of their low abundance, and their desirability in the marine aquarium industry.[4]
Efforts to protect them have included the conservation and protection of benthic estuarine habitats, as well as rocky offshore reef areas where they breed. Some protected habitats are:
The specific name honours the Dutch ichthyologist and physician Pieter Bleeker (1819-1878) who named two congeners of this species.[8]
Paraplesiops bleekeri, commonly known as the eastern blue devil, blue-tipped long-fin or Bleeker's blue devil fish, is a species of fish in the family Plesiopidae. This colourful, secretive fish is endemic to Australia, where it is a protected species.
