Common Name: Anthias genus Pseudanthias, example Lyretail anthias Pseudanthias squamipinnis
There are currently nearly 100 species identified in the genus Pseudanthias. They are related to groupers. Special care is required to acclimate them from the wild to an aquarium.
Scientific Name: Genus Pseudanthias , example Pseudanthias squamipinnis
Discoverer and date: Genus Pseudanthias perhaps Bleeker 1853; Pseudanthias squamipinnis Peters, 1855
Where found: They are found in the Indo Pacific from east Africa, the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and east towards Fiji. They tend to inhabit deeper waters, often found schooling under ledges in the drop off from reefs. They are also known to inhabit very deep waters and it is probable that many have not yet been identified.
Description: Lyretail Anthias are sexually dimorphic, meaning it is easy to tell male from female. Anthias begin life as females and transition to male as the hierarchy allows. The transition can occur as quickly as one or two weeks. Females are a bright orange from head to tail with a blue ring around their eyes as well as a blue stripe running horizontally from their eye to their pectoral fin. Males, on the other hand, are typically a bright red, sometimes with a splash of blue along the fins. Males will usually have an elongated dorsal spine as well. Though generally the female colors remain the same regardless of geographic location, the color and patterns of males differs depending on where it was collected.