Bartlett's Anthias

Appearance

''Pseudanthias bartlettorum'' has a somewhat elongated, moderately compressed body which is around 3 times as long .

Naming

''Pseudanthias bartlettorum'' was first formally described as ''Anthias bartlettorum'' in 1981 by John E. Randall and Roger Lubbock with the type locality given as the outer reef off Enubuj Islet at southern end of Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. When the genus ''Anthias'' was determined to be largely restricted to the Atlantic and Mediterraean the subgenus ''Mirolabrichtys'' was renamed ''Pseudanthias'' as this name, coined by Pieter Bleeker in 1871 had priority. The specific name honours Nathan and Patricia Bartlett who took the underwater photographs which showed that this species existed.

Distribution

''Pseudanthias bartlettorum'' is found in the western Pacific Ocean. It has been recorded from Palau, Kosrae in the Caroline Islands, Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, Nauru and Tabuaeran in Kiribati as well as from Tonga.

Behavior

''Pseudanthias bartlettorum'' is found in large schools consisting of a few males and several dozen females and juveniles. They feed on zooplankton and occur in areas with strong currents such as reef faces, slopes, drop off zones and channels down to depths of 30 metres .

Habitat

''Pseudanthias bartlettorum'' is found in large schools consisting of a few males and several dozen females and juveniles. They feed on zooplankton and occur in areas with strong currents such as reef faces, slopes, drop off zones and channels down to depths of 30 metres .