Dottyback Explained

The dottybacks are a family, Pseudochromidae, of fishes which were formerly classified in the order Perciformes, but this has been revised and the family is regarded as of uncertain affinities, or incertae sedis within the Ovalentaria, a clade within the Percomorpha. Around 152 species belong to this family.[1]

They are found in the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific, where most inhabit coral reefs. Many species are brightly coloured fish, often showing striking sexual dimorphism. They are generally small, mostly less than 10abbr=onNaNabbr=on in length, and some less than 2abbr=onNaNabbr=on.[2] The largest by far, at up to 45cm (18inches), is Congrogadus subducens.[3] Dottybacks are distinguished from other families by the presence of three or less spines in the dorsal fin and an incomplete lateral line organ.[2]

Several of the brightly coloured members of the family are often seen in the marine aquarium trade, although some species are aggressively territorial.[4]

Genera

Family Pseudochromidae

Timeline

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Notes and References

  1. Book: Fishes of the World . 5th . J. S. Nelson . T. C. Grande . M. V. H. Wilson . 2016 . 752 . Wiley . 978-1-118-34233-6 . 2018-10-13 . 2019-04-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190408194051/https://sites.google.com/site/fotw5th/ . dead .
  2. Book: Paxton, J.R. . Eschmeyer, W.N.. Johnson, G.D. . Gill, A.C.. 1998. Encyclopedia of Fishes. Academic Press. San Diego. 0-12-547665-5. 185.
  3. Lieske, E., and Myers, R. (1999). Coral Reef Fishes. 2nd edition. Princeton University Press.
  4. Goemans, B. (November 2008). Dottybacks—Choose Carefully! TFH Magazine. Retrieved 12 November 2016.