St. Brandon's sandy

📖 Overview

St. Brandon's sandy (Novaculops alvheimi) is a ray-finned fish of the family Labridae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters in reef-associated environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 9.6 cm. With a trophic level of 3.3, it is a low-level carnivore, feeding on invertebrates and small organisms.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 12; Vertebrae: 24. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D IX,12, first spine flexible, remaining spines firm and sharp-tipped, the space between first two dorsal spines half space between second and third spines; A III,12; pectoral rays 12; head no scales; no median predorsal scales; scales on side of nape extending to above free dorsal end of preopercular margin; gill rakers 18-21; lateral-line scales 20 + 5; body depth 3.2 in SL; dorsal profile of snout evenly convex; suborbital depth short, less than eye diameter, 5.3-5.45 in head length (HL); caudal fin slightly rounded and short, 1.35-1.4 in HL; pelvic fins nearly or just reaching anus, 1.4 in HL. Preserved color of body in alcohol light yellowish brown; fins pale yellowish; a large black spot in axil of pectoral fins; a blackish spot on each membrane of spinous portion of dorsal fin, darker in male; color of body of male when fresh with a series of indistinct longitudinal bands: orangish brown below base of dorsal fin, blue in a zone along lateral line, the lateral-line pores white (progressively fainter posteriorly), light blue suffused with yellow in a broad zone along midside, and blue and white ventrally; snout and nape orangish gray with an oblique deep orange band behind eye; rest of head yellowish white; iris bright red; spinous dorsal fin blue with a deep blue spot ventrally on each membrane; remaining median and pelvic fins light orange; pectoral fins pale yellow with a bluish black spot in axil. Color of body of female purplish pink with 2 broad white longitudinal bands on lower side, narrowing posteriorly, and ending before caudal peduncle; ten close-set, oblique, white lines crossing abdomen from pectoral region of lower white band; a broad, oblique, dark purplish red zone from nape to upper operculum; a large black spot in axil of pectoral fins; fins pale yellowish to orangish .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for St. Brandon's sandy is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range ? - 60 m . Tropical Indian Ocean: Mauritius, St.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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