Purple Anthias

Males of this species differ from males of P. pascalus by having a yellowish snout (Ref. 37816).Description: Characterized by male having uniformly purple color with posterior dorsal fin with large dark purple blotch; nuptial male with yellow jaws; female with yellow stripe along back connecting until yellow upper caudal fin; greatest depth of body 2.8-3.3 in SL; presence of fleshy protuberance at front of upper lip in male; deeply forked caudal fin with prolonged lobes in male (Ref. 90102).

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 17; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 7 - 8

Inhabits coral reefs (Ref. 58534); found primarily on continental reefs. Form aggregations on outer reef slopes to depths over 30 m. Feeds on planktonic crustaceans and fish eggs (Ref. 9710).

Found primarily on continental reefs (Ref. 9710). Form aggregations on outer reef slopes to depths over 30 m (Ref. 9710). Feeds on planktonic crustaceans and fish eggs (Ref. 9710).

aquarium: commercial

分布於印度-西太平洋區，西起印尼巴里島，東至所羅門群島，北至日本南部，南至澳洲。台灣綠島海域有產。

小型花鱸，不具食用經濟性之魚種。體色豔麗，是水族常見魚種，一般皆以陷阱法捕獲。

體延長而側扁。吻短。眼中大，眼眶後緣具乳突。口較大，稍傾斜；雄魚唇肥厚且圓凸。上下頜齒細小，前端具犬齒。下及間鰓蓋骨下緣平滑；鰓蓋棘兩枚。體被小櫛鱗；側線完全，側線鱗數45-49；上頜不具鱗；各鰭亦不具鱗。背鰭連續，具硬棘X，軟條15-17，第V-X背鰭棘最長且幾乎等長，雄魚軟條略為高舉；臀鰭硬棘III枚，軟條7-8，雄魚軟條部略為延長；腹鰭腹位，雌魚延伸至肛門，雄魚延伸至臀鰭；胸鰭軟條15-17；尾鰭深叉形，上下葉端略為延長。體紫紅色，雌魚背部具一條黃色縱帶延伸至尾鰭上葉，下葉亦有一條黃色縱帶；雄魚則無此黃色縱帶，但頭部腹側淡黃色，背鰭軟條部基部具一深紫色斑。

主要棲息於大陸棚區之外礁區，通常成群活動於外礁斜坡。以浮游甲殼類及魚卵為食。