Common family name
DottybacksScientific name
PseudochromidaeSize
Up to 50 cm, average 8 cm.Identification
Long cylindrical bodies with continuous dorsal fin. Small pelvic and large anal fins. Male and female look completely different. Often with bright colours like orange and purple. Black, white and yellow stripes are also common.General Info
Pseudochromidae family consists of 16 genera and 98 species. Found in crevices and coral rubble near reefs. Very territorial. Hermaphrodites (can adopt male and female sexual organs). Female deposits a ball of eggs which the male fertilises and watches over until they hatch. Some species are mouth brooders.Feeding
Feeds on algae, small crustaceans and plankton.Distribution
Occurs in all temperate and tropical oceans of the world.Common Species
Bicolour dottyback - Pictichromis paccagnellaeSankeys dottyback - Pseudochromis sankeyi
Dark dottyback - Pseudochromis pesi