Pastel tilefish (Hoplolatilus fronticinctus)

Scientific name: Hoplolatilus fronticinctus G?nther, 1887

The Pastel tilefish (Hoplolatilus fronticinctus) is a marine fish of the family Malacanthidae. Native range: Indo-West Pacific, off Kosi Bay in South Africa eastward to the Solomon Islands, north to the Philippines, Palau, and the Marshall Islands.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 12; Vertebrae: 24. Body pale olive-grey, darker above, belly pale blue; bluish violet band joining eyes across front of snout; lips and cheeks blue; upper 1/3 of pectoral fins bluish white, remainder pale yellow. This rare species has the deepest body in the genus and a thicker tail than H. cuniculus and H. starcki.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Hoplolatilus fronticinctus
Family: Malacanthidae (Tilefishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 21.0
Common length: 16.9
Depth range: 40–70 m (131–230 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 40 - 70 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific: off Kosi Bay in South Africa eastward to the Solomon Islands, north to the Philippines, Palau, and the Marshall Islands.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)