Sunrise Dottyback

The Sunrise Dottyback (Pseudochromis flavivertex) is a small, eye-catching fish from the Pseudochromidae family. Found mainly in the Western Pacific, its natural habitat includes the 🌊 Red Sea and the waters surrounding 🇮🇩 Indonesia, the 🇵🇭 Philippines, and Palau. This tropical marine fish is accustomed to reef environments, often residing near the bases of small rocks or coral heads on sandy sea floors, usually within a depth range of 2 to 30 meters (about 6.5 to 98 feet).

This species, which can reach up to 7.5 centimeters (3 inches) in length, is notable for its sleek, elongated body. With a pointed snout and a large head supported by a prominent dorsal fin, they are visually striking. Males typically exhibit a more elongated body and more intense colors compared to females, demonstrating sexual dimorphism among the species. The vibrant yellow-orange body, highlighted by a unique black spot near the tail and bright blue fins, make this fish particularly attractive. Juvenile Sunrise Dottybacks might show slightly different colors, often presenting a more subtle orange-yellow hue with a thin blue stripe running along their body.

Biologically fascinating, the Sunrise Dottyback is capable of bi-directional sex change, allowing it to switch between male and female roles as needed. This fish leads a solitary and sometimes territorial life, especially towards others of its kind. As omnivores, their diet includes a variety of small marine organisms, such as crustaceans and plankton.

Due to their striking appearance and manageable size, Sunrise Dottybacks are popular in the aquarium trade. They have been successfully bred in captivity and are commercially fished for this purpose. The name "Pseudochromis" comes from Greek, with "pseudes" meaning false and "chromis" referring to a fish, likely a type of perch.