AnthiasAnthiinae

Anthias are small, schooling fishes, typically 5-15 cm (2-6 inches) long, with some species reaching up to 20 cm (8 inches). Their bodies are generally elongated, often displaying bright colours, predominantly pinks, oranges, yellows, or purples. Many species show sexual dimorphism in their colour patterns and fin shapes. They possess prominent dorsal fins and often deeply forked caudal fins. The name Anthias derives from an ancient Greek term for a fish.

These fishes inhabit coral and rocky reef slopes and drop-offs, living from shallow depths down to over 60 meters (200 ft). They form dense aggregations that hover above the reef, feeding on zooplankton plucked from the water column. Divers frequently encounter these schools along exposed reef fronts. Their social structures typically involve a dominant male overseeing a group of females, with many species exhibiting protogynous hermaphroditism, allowing females to change sex to male.