Diagnostic Description
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Description: Juveniles are bluish black with concentric white circles. Adults blue with close-set horizontal yellow stripes on the sides and the adjoining dorsal and anal fins. Snout white; eye enclosed in a black vertical bar with blue edge; pectoral fin base area also black. Transformation to the adult color pattern occurs over the size range 8 - 12 cm (Ref. 1602). Body depth 1.6-1.8 in SL. Scales longitudinal series about 90 (Ref. 90102).
Diseases and Parasites
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Cauliflower Disease. Viral diseases
Morphology
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Dorsal spines (total): 13 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17 - 21; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 18 - 21
Trophic Strategy
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Juveniles are encountered under ledges, or in holes of outer lagoon patch reefs or semi-protected areas of exposed channels and outer reef flats. Subadults move to reef front holes and surge channels. Large adults inhabit ledges and caves in areas of rich coral growth on clear lagoon, channel, or seaward reefs. Feed on sponges, algae and other encrusting organisms (Refs. 6113, 127989). Also on tunicates. Lives individually or may form pairs (Also Ref. 127989). Young and adults may clean much larger fishes such as sunfish (Ref. 48636).
- Recorder
- Drina Sta. Iglesia
Biology
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Juveniles are encountered under ledges, or in holes of outer lagoon patch reefs or semi-protected areas of exposed channels and outer reef flats. Subadults move to reef front holes and surge channels. Large adults inhabit ledges and caves in areas of rich coral growth on clear lagoon, channel, or seaward reefs (Ref. 6113). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feed on sponges and other encrusting organisms (Ref. 6113); also on tunicates. Form pairs. Young and adults may clean much larger fishes such as sunfish (Ref. 48636). Frequently exported through the aquarium trade. Juveniles are distinguished by a white dorsal-fin margin (Ref. 48391).
Importance
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fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial; price category: high; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family