Elegant Firefish

The Elegant Firefish, also known as the Exquisite Dartfish (Nemateleotris decora), is a striking marine fish that inhabits tropical reef environments. Typically found at depths between 25 and 70 meters (82 and 230 feet), these fish can dive as deep as 100 meters (328 feet). They have a maximum length of about 9 centimeters (3.5 inches).

Characterized by its beautiful yellowish sides and vibrant red and purple fins, this species has distinct features including 7 dorsal spines, 27-32 dorsal soft rays, 1 anal spine, and 28-31 anal soft rays.

The Elegant Firefish is commonly seen on the deeper edges of coastal reefs, especially at drop-off zones where currents range from moderate to strong. They are typically found over hard, open sea floors and areas covered with sand and rubble, often living in pairs. These monogamous fish engage in both obligatory and social mating behaviors.

Their diet consists mainly of zooplankton, particularly copepods and crustacean larvae. When faced with threats, they quickly retreat into nearby crevices.

The species is primarily distributed across the Indo-Pacific region, from 🇲🇺 Mauritius to 🇼🇸 Samoa, extending north to the Ryukyu Islands (🇯🇵 Japan) and southwards to 🇳🇨 New Caledonia (🇫🇷 Overseas France). Historically, populations in the 🌊 Indian Ocean and 🌊 Red Sea were considered a separate species, N. exquisita.

The name Nemateleotris decora is derived from Greek and Latin, with 'nemat' meaning thread, the eleotrid genus Eleotris, and 'decora' meaning elegant and beautiful.