Lyretail Anthias

The Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis), also known as the orange basslet, is a marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Anthiinae within the family Serranidae. With its wide distribution in the Indo-Pacific region, this species can be found in the western 🌊 Indian Ocean, including the 🌊 Red Sea, as well as the 🌊 Pacific Ocean extending to 🇯🇵 Japan and southeast 🇦🇺 Australia, excluding the 🌊 Persian Gulf and 🇴🇲 Oman.

Sexual dimorphism is observed in the sea goldie. Females typically have a length of up to 7 cm (2.75 in) and display an orange/gold coloration with a violet streak below the eye. On the other hand, males can reach a length of up to 15 cm (5.9 in) and exhibit a fuchsia coloration with an elongated third ray of the dorsal fin, a red patch on the pectoral fin, and elongated margins of the tail. The midas blenny, Ecsenius midas, mimics the appearance of the sea goldie during a phase of yellow coloration, effectively blending into their social group.

The diet of the sea goldie consists primarily of zooplankton. Similar to other anthias species, the sea goldie is a protogynous hermaphrodite, wherein a male controls a harem of around five to ten females. In the event of the male's departure or death, the largest and most dominant female undergoes hormonal and physical changes to transition into the new male for the harem. This transformation can take several weeks to months to complete. Spawning typically occurs at sunset, specifically between December and February in the 🌊 Red Sea.

These fish inhabit coral outcrops within clear lagoons, patch reefs, and steep slopes at depths of up to 35 m. Frequently, they are seen congregating in large schools above the reef, often alongside Chromis dimidiata.