Plectranthias pelicieri Randall & Shimizu, 1994
photo by Pelicier, D.

Family:  Anthiadidae (Fairy basslets or Streamer basses)
Max. size:  4.8 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 50 - 95 m
Distribution:  Indian Ocean, from Mauritius and South Africa (northern KwaZulu-Natal), and probably also off Madagascar and Mozambique at comparable depths.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-17; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-7; Vertebrae: 26-26. Unique among the others in having three ventrally-directed to antrorse spines on the ventral margin of the preopercle.
Biology:  Rests on the bottom with gravel and small round corals; usually in pairs.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 19 July 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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