Scientific Name
Suezichthys aylingi

Common Name
Crimson cleaner fish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10; Vertebrae: 25. Initial phase color: body red-orange above, paler posteriorly; with a white-bordered black ocellus at the base of the 9th and 10th dorsal rays. Terminal phase color: body deep crimson, paler below; pearly white stripe running from corner of mouth to caudal fin base; head with six bright blue lines. Predorsal scales 4 (3-5). Cheek scale 1 row behind the eye; 2 rows below eye. No scaly sheath at the base of dorsal and anal fins. Scales large. Pectoral fin with two rudimentary dorsalmost rays.

Classification

Classified By

Russell, 1985

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Wrasses (Labridae)

Distribution

Region

Southwest Pacific

Distribution

Southwest Pacific: southeastern Australia (New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania) and northeastern New Zealand.

Range

25°S - 48°S, 140°E - 178°W

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

6 m

Depth To - meters

100 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 6 - 100 m

Trophic Level

3.5 s.e. 0.50 Based on food items.

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

11.7 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5010 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Unknown

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (26 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)