Dr. Uwe Zajonz
Info
The goldspotted dwarf perch was found on the southwest coast of Socotra Island in Ras Qatanin Bay, around a large boulder in 8 - 11 m water depth in a biotope dominated by macroalgae with large sponges and very sparse encrusting hard corals on a rock platform with gravelly sand, and on the west coast of Socotra Island in Shuab Bay, Ras Asfar at 8 - 10 m on a sparse hard coral and filter feeding community on ledges.
Further visual records were made in 2000 of a Porites-dominated community on a rock platform on the west coast at Ras Bidou.
In 2009, 2011 the species was sighted (by H. Pulch, F.N. Saeed and T. Alpermann) from Ras Qatanin, Shuab Bay and Ras Bidou, as well as from the south of Socotra (off Steroh village)
The species was collected from the relatively sheltered, hard coral dominated habitats on the north and northeast coasts of Socotra, suggesting a preference for the more rugged, monsoon and upwelling influenced habitats in the south and west of Socotra Island.
Two visual records from Hawlaf and Di Hamri on the north coast may be misconceptions.
So far, the species has only been recorded from the shallow depth range of 3 -11 m and does not appear to inhabit the other islands of the archipelago.
This obvious restriction of the distribution range has yet to be confirmed.
Coloration (based on field observations and a color slide of the 42.5 mm SL paratype from Socotra Figure 5).
Head and body are yellowish to orange-brown, darker dorsally, becoming purplish blue behind the anal fin base.
The upper part of the operculum and the head are marked with dark violet blue spots, two or three slightly oblique, dark blue stripes are found on the cheeks below the eye.
The snout and lips of the dwarf perch are dark gray, the iris is light red to brown with a light blue oblique line above and below the pupil.
The nuchal and upper flank scales (immediately behind and above the pectoral fin base) each have a dark blue to dark purple base spot.
remaining body scales each have an orange-brown to light golden-yellow base spot.
The dorsal fin is yellowish to reddish brown, with three to six rows of elongated dark blue to violet spots, which are curved proximally and run backwards to form interrupted oblique lines.
The anal fins are blue to bluish hyaline, with several rows of yellow spots, the caudal fin is dark purple-gray, becoming gray hyaline towards the rear.
Each scale at the base of the caudal fin has an orange-brown basal spot.
The pectoral fins are yellowish hyaline, brown basally, the pelvic fins are gray hyaline to hyaline.
Etymology:
The genus name "Pseudochromis" comes from the: Greek, "pseudes" = false and "chromis" = a fish, perhaps a perch
Etymology.
The specific epithet "chrysospilus" comes from the Greek "chrysos", gold, and "spilos", spot, and alludes to the golden spots on the body
We would like to thank Dr. Uwe Zajonz for the first photo of Pseudochromis chrysospilus, which was taken by Dr. Zajonz, Senckenberg Research Institute and Nature Museum, on site.
Further visual records were made in 2000 of a Porites-dominated community on a rock platform on the west coast at Ras Bidou.
In 2009, 2011 the species was sighted (by H. Pulch, F.N. Saeed and T. Alpermann) from Ras Qatanin, Shuab Bay and Ras Bidou, as well as from the south of Socotra (off Steroh village)
The species was collected from the relatively sheltered, hard coral dominated habitats on the north and northeast coasts of Socotra, suggesting a preference for the more rugged, monsoon and upwelling influenced habitats in the south and west of Socotra Island.
Two visual records from Hawlaf and Di Hamri on the north coast may be misconceptions.
So far, the species has only been recorded from the shallow depth range of 3 -11 m and does not appear to inhabit the other islands of the archipelago.
This obvious restriction of the distribution range has yet to be confirmed.
Coloration (based on field observations and a color slide of the 42.5 mm SL paratype from Socotra Figure 5).
Head and body are yellowish to orange-brown, darker dorsally, becoming purplish blue behind the anal fin base.
The upper part of the operculum and the head are marked with dark violet blue spots, two or three slightly oblique, dark blue stripes are found on the cheeks below the eye.
The snout and lips of the dwarf perch are dark gray, the iris is light red to brown with a light blue oblique line above and below the pupil.
The nuchal and upper flank scales (immediately behind and above the pectoral fin base) each have a dark blue to dark purple base spot.
remaining body scales each have an orange-brown to light golden-yellow base spot.
The dorsal fin is yellowish to reddish brown, with three to six rows of elongated dark blue to violet spots, which are curved proximally and run backwards to form interrupted oblique lines.
The anal fins are blue to bluish hyaline, with several rows of yellow spots, the caudal fin is dark purple-gray, becoming gray hyaline towards the rear.
Each scale at the base of the caudal fin has an orange-brown basal spot.
The pectoral fins are yellowish hyaline, brown basally, the pelvic fins are gray hyaline to hyaline.
Etymology:
The genus name "Pseudochromis" comes from the: Greek, "pseudes" = false and "chromis" = a fish, perhaps a perch
Etymology.
The specific epithet "chrysospilus" comes from the Greek "chrysos", gold, and "spilos", spot, and alludes to the golden spots on the body
We would like to thank Dr. Uwe Zajonz for the first photo of Pseudochromis chrysospilus, which was taken by Dr. Zajonz, Senckenberg Research Institute and Nature Museum, on site.
