Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation
Info
Enneapterygius viridicauda is only known from the southwest of Flores, Indonesia.
The species has been observed at depths of 1-5 meters in a mixed habitat of coral, sponges and algae that is exposed to waves and surf throughout the year.
Their unusual pink-green body coloration serves as camouflage in this habitat, with the body colors blending into the background.
Males of Enneapterygius viridicauda are pinkish in the front half of the body, with three irregular lighter bars, the front lateral line has a row of 9 dark brown spots and the back half of the body is olive green.
The head is covered with a dark olive-brown mask in front of the eyes and up to the base of the pectoral fins, the cheeks are densely covered with black melanophores.
A vertical blackish stripe is visible at the base of the pectoral fins, the occiput is greenish yellow.
The snout has a few green spots, the eye is dark olive green and the pupil has an orange border.
The anterior membrane of the first dorsal fin is white, while the other membranes of the dorsal fin are translucent and densely covered with melanophores on the basal side.
The anal fin is black, white in front, the tips of the fin rays are also white, while the caudal fin is dark olive green.
All pectoral fin rays are dark red, basally white, the pelvic fins are white.
Females have a similar coloration to the males, but are lighter overall and without a dark head mask.
The most similar species, Enneapterygius flavoccipitis, is widespread in the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific, but is absent from Nusa Tenggara (Indonesia), where it is apparently replaced by Enneapterygius viridicauda.
The first author received photos from divers of further specimens of Enneapterygius viridicauda from the Komodo region and eastern Sumbawa, one of the Lesser Sunda Islands.
Etymology. The epithet "viridicauda" refers to the distinctive green tail: "viridis" (Latin) for "green", and "cauda" (Latin) for "tail".
Citation: Fricke, R., Erdmann, M.V. & Sianipar, A. (2024)
Enneapterygius viridicauda, a new triplefin (Teleostei: Tripterygiidae) from Flores, Indonesia, eastern Indian Ocean.
Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation, 41, 22-29.
The species has been observed at depths of 1-5 meters in a mixed habitat of coral, sponges and algae that is exposed to waves and surf throughout the year.
Their unusual pink-green body coloration serves as camouflage in this habitat, with the body colors blending into the background.
Males of Enneapterygius viridicauda are pinkish in the front half of the body, with three irregular lighter bars, the front lateral line has a row of 9 dark brown spots and the back half of the body is olive green.
The head is covered with a dark olive-brown mask in front of the eyes and up to the base of the pectoral fins, the cheeks are densely covered with black melanophores.
A vertical blackish stripe is visible at the base of the pectoral fins, the occiput is greenish yellow.
The snout has a few green spots, the eye is dark olive green and the pupil has an orange border.
The anterior membrane of the first dorsal fin is white, while the other membranes of the dorsal fin are translucent and densely covered with melanophores on the basal side.
The anal fin is black, white in front, the tips of the fin rays are also white, while the caudal fin is dark olive green.
All pectoral fin rays are dark red, basally white, the pelvic fins are white.
Females have a similar coloration to the males, but are lighter overall and without a dark head mask.
The most similar species, Enneapterygius flavoccipitis, is widespread in the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific, but is absent from Nusa Tenggara (Indonesia), where it is apparently replaced by Enneapterygius viridicauda.
The first author received photos from divers of further specimens of Enneapterygius viridicauda from the Komodo region and eastern Sumbawa, one of the Lesser Sunda Islands.
Etymology. The epithet "viridicauda" refers to the distinctive green tail: "viridis" (Latin) for "green", and "cauda" (Latin) for "tail".
Citation: Fricke, R., Erdmann, M.V. & Sianipar, A. (2024)
Enneapterygius viridicauda, a new triplefin (Teleostei: Tripterygiidae) from Flores, Indonesia, eastern Indian Ocean.
Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation, 41, 22-29.
