Shy hamlet (Hypoplectrus guttavarius)

Scientific name: Hypoplectrus guttavarius Poey, 1852

The Shy hamlet (Hypoplectrus guttavarius) is a marine fish of the family Serranidae. Native range: Western Central Atlantic, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Florida (USA), Bahamas, Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles and Honduras.

Biology

Head yellow, body black to brown (extent of the yellow and black portions can vary). The yellow and black portions are divided by a diagonal line that extends from the nape posteriorly and ventrally to the anal fin. Face and all fins yellow. Pectoral fins pigmented. Head with iridescent blue lines (as in butter hamlet but the lines are fewer in number and more pronounced). Two black spots bordered by iridescent blue may be found on the snout in the region of the nares.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Hypoplectrus guttavarius
Family: Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 13.0
Depth range: 3–30 m (10–98 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 30 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Western Central Atlantic: Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Florida (USA), Bahamas, Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles and Honduras.
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.)