Southern blue devil
| Southern blue devil | |
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| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Blenniiformes |
| Family: | Plesiopidae |
| Genus: | Paraplesiops |
| Species: | P. meleagris
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| Binomial name | |
| Paraplesiops meleagris (Peters, 1869)
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| Synonyms | |
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The southern blue devil (Paraplesiops meleagris) is a species of ray-finned fish in the longfin family Plesiopidae. Endemic to southern Australia, it is a close relative of the eastern blue devil (P. bleekeri), which lives in coastal waters of eastern Australia, and of the western blue devil (P. sinclairi) of southwestern Western Australia.
Description
[edit | edit source]The southern blue devil grows to about 33 cm in length. The body is dark blue to bluish-grey and densely covered in brighter blue spots, and the dorsal, pelvic, anal and pelvic fins have a pale blue margin. The dorsal, anal and pelvic fins are relatively large.[2][3]
Distribution and habitat
[edit | edit source]The southern blue devil is found along the southern Australian coastline, from South Australia to eastern Victoria. It occupies reefs, ledges, crevices, and deep cave systems, at depths ranging from 3 to over 40 m, sometimes in small groups containing individuals of sizes varying from small juveniles to mature adults.[2]
Behavior
[edit | edit source]Breeding
[edit | edit source]Eggs are laid on a substrate and are guarded by the male until they hatch.[2]
Feeding
[edit | edit source]This species feeds on small fish, crabs and gastropods.[2][3]
References
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External links
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