Joan'S Fairy Warsse

Color in life red or red-brown, white on ventral parts; females with 5 white stripes or horizontal rows of white spots on head and sides; males with black pelvic fins and blue caudal fin. Lateral line interrupted, dorsoanterior series of pores scales 14-15; straight peduncular part 6-8, not including a larger pored scale on the base of caudal fin. Median predorsal scales 5. A single scale row on cheek. First 2 dorsal spines in males elevated, forming an elongate pennant-like structure, its length, 0.7-0.8 in head. Caudal fin rounded in juveniles, females and small males; rhomboid in mature males. Pelvic fins of males long and club-shaped, 0.7 in HL (Ref. 44110).

Distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 11 - 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 25

A group of 10-15 individuals were sighted and observed on rubble bottom at the base of a moderate slope. Observed twice during late afternoon where males were chasing females and engaging in courtship displays in which dorsal and pelvic fins were fully erect (Ref. 44110). Often exported from Bali in the aquarium trade. Appears to be undescribed, closely related to C. rubriventralis from the Red Sea (Ref. 48636).