Ablabys pauciporus Chungthanawong & Motomura, 2018
Lesser-scaled cockatoo waspfsh
photo by Motomura, H.

Family:  Tetrarogidae (Wasp fishes)
Max. size:  5.24 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 44 - 65 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 16-17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5-6; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 4-5; Vertebrae: 24-24. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: D XVI-XVII,5-6; A III,4-5; pectoral-fn rays 11; lateral-line pores 12-13; scale rows in longitudinal series 47-55; scale row above lateral line 0-1, below lateral line 17-18; scale rows between last dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line 4-5; scale rows between sixth dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line 1-4; thorax with scales; interspinous dorsal-fin membranes are strongly notched; last dorsal-fin soft ray joined posteriorly by membrane to dorsal edge of caudal peduncle but not to the upper margin of caudal fin; head length 37.7-38.7% (mean 38.2%) of SL; head depth 28.1-30.3% (29.1%) of SL; orbit diameter 12.4-12.7% (12.5%) of SL; anal-fin base length 19.8-22.8% (21.2%) of SL; pectoral-fin length 37.5-41.8% (39.9%) of SL; longest pelvic-fin soft ray length 30.5-31.2% (30.9%) of SL; vertebrae 9+15. Colouration: with a large white blotch (sometimes indistinct) on mid-body above the lateral line; body is bright reddish orange with small whitish spots on fins (in fresh specimens); whitish fins (in preserved specimens) (Ref. 123539).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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