Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Perciformes/Serranoidei (Groupers) >
Anthiadidae (Fairy basslets or Streamer basses)
Etymology: Compsanthias: From the Greek κομψός, meaning elegant or pretty, and ant'anthias', referring to the graceful form
and striking coloration of the included species.
More on author: Randall.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 26 - 68 m (Ref. 10382). Tropical
Eastern Central Pacific: Hawaii and Johnston Island.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 10382)
Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16 - 18; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10. This species has the following characters: body depth 2.6-2.95 in SL; scaled lower jaw; absence of fleshy papillae on edge of orbit; upper edge of preopercle finely serrate while the lower edge is smooth; margin of subopercle serrate while interopercle has 0-4 serrae; in males the front of upper lip is not thickened nor pointed and the anterior soft part of the anal fin more prolonged, fourth anal soft ray longest; caudal fin deeply emarginate with filamentous lobes; pelvic fins long, very long in males; colour of females yellow dorsally, shading on body to lavender-pink, but scale centers yellow; head yellow with pink to magenta lines; fins are yellow, the dorsal and anterior anal fin with magenta margin; color of head of males similar to females but body orange with red scale centers, changing to violet posteriorly; dorsal and anal fins are mainly orange, abruptly pale yellow posteriorly; a large magenta-edged yellow spot at base of pectoral fins (Ref. 86689).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Gill, A.C., 2024. Compsanthias, new genus of Pacific Anthiadidae (Teleostei). Zootaxa 5463(3):360-374. (Ref. 137448)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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