Scientific Name
Pseudochromis melanurus

Common Name
Blacktail dottyback

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21-22; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 12 - 14; Vertebrae: 26 - 27. This species distinguished by the following characters: 21-22 (rarely 21) segmented dorsal-fin rays; 12-14 (rarely 12 or 14) segmented anal fin rays; weakly pungent to flexible anal spines, the second one varying from about as stout to less stout than the third; 29-35 (usually 30-33) scales in lateral series; 23-28 (usually 24-27) anterior lateral line scales; 10-12 scales below anterior lateral line; males with distinct coloration, head and body dark grey to black (dark brown to black when preserved), the lower part of head and body in front to anal-fin origin yellowish brown (when preserved pale brown to brown) (Ref. 81967).

Classification

Classified By

Gill, 2004

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Dottybacks (Pseudochromidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Pacific

Distribution

Western Pacific: Fiji and Tonga.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

10 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 10 m (Ref. 81967)

Trophic Level

s.e. 0.00 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

4.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Unknown

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (10 of 100)

Resilience

Unknown

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated