Coral Devil (species: Plesiops coeruleolineatus) in Lady Elliot Island (Gaia Guide)
Lady Elliot Island > Marine Vertebrates > Actinopterygii > Plesiopidae > Plesiops coeruleolineatus (gallery)
Plesiops coeruleolineatus
Coral Devil


©Alex Vail: Plesiops coeruleolineatus about 35 mm long from Lizard Island lagoon (aquarium photo)

©Tessa Hempson: Plesiops coeruleolineatus about 35 mm long from Lizard Island lagoon (aquarium photo)

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Perciformes
Family Plesiopidae
Genus Plesiops
Species Plesiops coeruleolineatus

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Colours

                        

Distinguishing features

The body is generally black or brown; 2 dark stripes behind eye; dorsal spines orange distally; bluish stripe along basal part of dorsal fin. (Fishbase)

Size

  • Up to 10 cm (Total Length)

Depth range

  • From 1 m to 23 m

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Adults are found under stone or corals in flood basins and lagoons. They are common but very secretive and usually found when turning rubble pieces in pools. (Fishbase)

Local abundance

  • Lizard Island: Apparently abundant but cryptic

Behaviour

Small and cryptic, it lives in crevices.

Diet

They venture out in the open at night to feed on small crustaceans, fishes and gastropods. (Fishbase)

Web resources

References

  • Allen and M.V. Erdmann, G.R. (2012). Reef fishes of the East Indies. Volumes I-III in: Reef fishes of the East Indies. Tropical Reef Research, Perth, Australia. LIRS catalog number 90162.