LABRIDAE


Pseudocheilinus evanidus, 1.8 cm SL
(photo by Richard Winterbottom)


Pseudocheilinus evanidus
Jordan and Evermann, 1903
Disappearing Wrasse

D IX, 11; A III, 9; P1 13-14; LLp 14-17 + 4-6; GR 11-15.

Body moderately deep. Snout pointed, moderately long; 3 large canines on each side at front of upper jaw, and 1 pair anteriorly on lower jaw. Eye with modified scleral cornea forming a double pupil. Preopercular margin smooth. Lateral line interrupted; head scaled except interorbital, snout and ventrally; a sheath of scales at base of dorsal and anal fins. Caudal fin rounded. Color: red with numerous fine longitudinal whitish lines on body and a bluish white streak on cheek. Distribution: Indo- Pacific, from East Africa and Red Sea to Hawaii and Tuamotu Archipelago. Remarks: a secretive species, lives among patches of rubble on seaward reef slopes at depths of 6 to over 45 m.