Tongan spiny basslet
📖 Overview
Collected off a deep slope with a near vertical coral wall with a sandy channel at its base, followed by a steep drop-off . Eggs are guarded by the male parent .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 4; Anal spines: 7; Anal soft rays: 4; Vertebrae: 27. This species is characterized by the following: D XVIII,4; anterior dorsal-fin pterygiophore formula ?/?/I+I/I/I/I/I/I/I//I/I/I/I; dentary pores 3; intertemporal pores 2, generally brownish head and body with darker pigment spots (from shrunken melanophores), except the pale stripe from the anterior half of the symphyseal flap to origin of dorsal fin continuous with a pale first dorsal spine, pectoral fin base with a pale spot, pale caudal peduncle continuous with pale bases of last 3 segmented dorsal- and anal-fin rays, the median fins slightly darker than body color with pale tips to their rays, first pelvic-fin ray dark on proximal 2/3 and pale on distal third, second pelvic-fin ray dark except for extreme distal tip; scales ctenoid; last dorsal- or anal-fin rays no membranous attachment to caudal fin .
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Tongan spiny basslet is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Eggs are guarded by the male parent .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 21 - 32 m . Tropical Central Pacific: Tonga.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
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