Liopropoma swalesi (Fowler & Bean, 1930)
Swales' basslet
photo by Tanaka, H.

Family:  Liopropomatidae (Painted basslets), subfamily: Liopropomatinae
Max. size:  5.6 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 20 - 110 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Vanuatu, Philippines, Indonesia and New Britain, Papua New Guinea
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Readily identified by the orange stripes and the white-edged black ocelli in the second dorsal and anal fins (Ref. 48635). Description: Characterized by having a pair of black spots on upper and lower caudal fin lobe; pair of enlarged pores in interorbital space and large pore anteromedially from each posterior nostril; pelvic fins 1.6-1.8 in head length (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Very secretive in dense brittle coral formation on coastal slopes at depths of about 25 m (Ref. 48635). Solitary (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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