POMACENTRIDAE


Cheiloprion labiatus, 4.2 cm SL
(photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin)


Cheiloprion labiatus
(Day, 1877)
Big-lip Damsel

D VIII, 13-14; A II, 13-14; P1 17; LLp 17-18.

Body moderately deep and compressed. Posterior margin of preopercle serrate. Suborbital naked, with entire ventral free edge. Lips enlarged, protruding and slightly curled dorsoventrally. Teeth on jaws biserial. Caudal fin weakly emarginate; no conspicuous projecting spine-like rays at upper and lower edges of caudal-fin base. Color: head, body and fins grayish brown. Size: 6.0 cm SL. Distribution: Andaman Sea and West Pacific. Remarks: found around branches of Acropora corals in coral reefs; feeds on coral polyps.