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Twospot basslet (Pseudanthias bimaculatus) — Serranidae

Twospot basslet

Pseudanthias bimaculatus
Family: Serranidae

The Twospot basslet (Pseudanthias bimaculatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 14 cm.

Length
14 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
20.0–100.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Africa: Mayotte, Indonesia, Maldives, Mozambique, Philippines, Reunion I. and others

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Description

The twospot basslet is a colourful anthias (Anthiadidae) from the Indian Ocean. The species grows to about 14 cm; males are purple-pink with two conspicuous red blotches on the back, females orange-yellow. As a reef-dweller it hovers in schools above deep coral slopes and picks suspended zooplankton. Like many anthias it changes sex from female to male. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Twospot basslet?

The Twospot basslet has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly pink-purple.

Where does the Twospot basslet live?

The Twospot basslet lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Africa: Mayotte, Indonesia, Maldives, Mozambique, Philippines, Reunion I. and others

How big does the Twospot basslet get?

The Twospot basslet grows to a maximum of about 14 cm.

Is the Twospot basslet dangerous to humans?

No, the Twospot basslet is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Twospot basslet (Pseudanthias bimaculatus) — Serranidae — 2
Randall, John E. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Twospot basslet (Pseudanthias bimaculatus) — Serranidae — 3
Randall, John E. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Twospot basslet (Pseudanthias bimaculatus) — Serranidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) mken0403, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Twospot basslet (Pseudanthias bimaculatus) — Serranidae — 5
John E. Randall (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Twospot basslet sourced
Scientific name
Pseudanthias bimaculatus
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Two-spot basslet; Purple goldie verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
14.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Pink / purple sourced
Tail shape
Crescent (lunate) inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
20.0 verified
Max depth (m)
100.0 verified
Natural range
Africa: Mayotte, Indonesia, Maldives, Mozambique, Philippines, Reunion I. and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes sourced
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Pseudanthias

More from the family Serranidae

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