Twospot Anthias

Scientific Name: Pseudanthias bimaculatus
Family: Anthias – Serranidae/Anthiinae
Maximum Size: 9cm
Identification: Male – Shades of red or orange with lavender to purple scribble markings; 2 orange to yellow bands bordered with lavender to purple extend from eye to pectoral fin, tips of tail lobes bluish.
Favourite: Form small plankton-feeding aggregations.
Hide-out: 1-3m above reefs and steep slopes in 20-60m.
Location: Indo-Asian Pacific – E. Africa to Java and Bali in Indonesia.

Threadfin Anthias

Scientific Name: Pseudanthias huchti
Family: Anthias – Serranidae/Anthiinae
Maximum Size: 12cm
Identification: Male – Lavender-gray to yellowish gray; bright red stripe from eye to pectoral fin base, red border on ventral fins; long 3rd dorsal spine.
Favourite: Solitary or form small plankton-feeding groups.
Hide-out: Around outcroppings of clear outer reef slopes in 4-20m.
Location: Asian Pacific – Indonesia, Philippines, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Is, Vanuatu and Great Barrier Reef.

Sunset Anthias

Scientific Name: Pseudanthias parvirostris
Family: Anthias – Serranidae/Anthiinae
Maximum Size: 9cm
Identification: Male – Yellow with purple dorsal fin and borders on tail; purple line markings on head. Reddish with white dorsal fin and tail borders in Indian Ocean.
Favourite: Form small aggregations.
Hide-out: Near patch reefs and coral outcroppings of deep outer slopes in 30-65m.
Location: Indo-Asian Pacific – Mauritius and Maldives to Philippines, Palau and Solomon Is, north to S. Japan.

Stocky Anthias

Scientific Name: Pseudanthias hypselosoma
Family: Anthias – Serranidae/Anthiinae
Maximum Size: 19cm
Identification: Male – Pinkish with extensive red area on upper head and foreback, red spot on dorsal fin; rounded tail, elongate ventral fins and large anal fin.
Favourite: Form schools.
Hide-out: Above coral outcroppings on sheltered coastal reefs and lagoons to 35m.
Location: East Indo-West Pacific – Maldives to Samoa. S.W. Japan to Palau and Great Barrier Reef.

Squarespot Anthias

Scientific Name: Pseudanthias pleurotaenia
Family: Anthias – Serranidae/Anthiinae
Maximum Size: 20cm
Identification: Male – Orangish red to magenta; large square violet spot on side; long 3rd dorsal spine.
Favourite: Form loose groups containing far more females than males.
Hide-out: Steep seaward slopes in 10-180, usually below 25m.
Location: West Pacific – Indonesia to Samoa. S.W. Japan and Micronesia to N.W. Australia and New Caledonia.