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Lord Howe Dottyback (Pseudoplesiops howensis) — Pseudochromidae

Lord Howe Dottyback

Pseudoplesiops howensis
LC · Least Concern

The Lord Howe Dottyback (Pseudoplesiops howensis) is a saltwater fish of the family Pseudochromidae that grows up to 3 cm.

Length
2.8 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
20.0–25.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The Lord Howe dottyback is one of the smallest dottybacks from the western Pacific, off Australia, Lord Howe Island and New Caledonia. The species grows to only about 3 cm and has a small, elongate body. It lives hidden on coral reefs between 20 and 25 metres depth and feeds on small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Lord Howe Dottyback?

The Lord Howe Dottyback has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Lord Howe Dottyback live?

The Lord Howe Dottyback lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Lord Howe Dottyback get?

The Lord Howe Dottyback grows to a maximum of about 3 cm.

Is the Lord Howe Dottyback dangerous to humans?

No, the Lord Howe Dottyback is harmless to humans.

Is the Lord Howe Dottyback edible?

The Lord Howe Dottyback is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Lord Howe-dottyback verified
English name
Lord Howe Dottyback verified
Scientific name
Pseudoplesiops howensis
Family
Pseudochromidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
2.8 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
20.0 verified
Max depth (m)
25.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Pseudoplesiops

More from the family Pseudochromidae

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