Steeneichthys plesiopsus Allen & Randall, 1985
Steene's prettyfin
photo by Allen, G.R.

Family:  Plesiopidae (Roundheads), subfamily: Plesiopinae
Max. size:  3 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range - 35 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Australia (including Rowley Shoals, Western Australia), Papua New Guinea and Fiji. Recently recorded from Tonga (Ref. 53797).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-7. Description: Characterized by whitish head with three yellowish brown bars; body with six faint ark bars; several white dots dorsally on side; dorsal spines white; alternating whitish and dark brown bars/bands on soft dorsal, anal and caudal fins; absence of bands on soft dorsal and anal fins in young; single tubed lateral line scale; midlateral scale series 22-24; depth of body at dorsal fin origin 2.5-3.2 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Adults are benthic which occur inshore (Ref. 7300). They inhabit coral reef (Ref. 75154). Eggs are guarded by the male parent (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.