Heemstra's anthias (Pseudanthias heemstrai)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Pseudanthias heemstrai
- Common name
- Heemstra's anthias
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Anthiadidae
- Genus
- Pseudanthias
- Size
- 5–10 cm
- Depth
- 30–100 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- schooling
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Pseudanthias heemstrai reaches 10 cm. Small anthias (Serranidae, Anthiadinae) endemic to tropical East Atlantic (Cape Verde, Senegal, Guinea). Terminal males pink-orange to bright red with magenta patterns and yellow bands on flanks, more uniformly pink-red females. Lives in dense active schools from 30 to 100 m on deep rocky drop-offs and coralligenous. Planktivore. Named after Phil Heemstra, South African ichthyologist. East Atlantic cousin of numerous Indo-Pacific Pseudanthias (4 species batch 14). Iconic wide-angle photo subject of Cape Verde deep dives.
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Heemstra's anthias?
- Heemstra's anthias (Pseudanthias heemstrai) reaches 5–10 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Heemstra's anthias?
- Heemstra's anthias is found between 30–100 m deep.
- Is the Heemstra's anthias dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Heemstra's anthias?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Heemstra's anthias?
- Found in: East Atlantic, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the genus Pseudanthias
- Pseudanthias dispar - Redfin anthias
- Pseudanthias squamipinnis - Sea goldie
- Pseudanthias evansi - Evans' anthias
- Pseudanthias bicolor - Bicolor anthias
- Pseudanthias tuka - Purple anthias
- Pseudanthias huchtii - Huchtupp's Anthias
Other species in the family Anthiadidae
- Nemanthias carberryi - Carberry's anthias
- Luzonichthys waitei - Waite's splitfin
- Plectranthias inermis - Unarmed perchlet
- Tosanoides obama - Obama Basslet
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 277456)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2387651)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia