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Elegant firefish

Elegant firefish
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Gobiiformes
Family: Gobiidae
Genus: Nemateleotris
Species:
N. decora
Binomial name
Nemateleotris decora

Nemateleotris decora, the elegant firefish or purple firefish, is a species of dartfish native to tropical waters in the Indo-West Pacific, from Mauritius to Samoa, north to Ryukyu Islands, and south to New Caledonia, from depths ranging between 25 and 70 m (82 and 230 ft). It is found over hard, open bottoms of reefs, sandy patches and rubble, as well as deeper coastal outer reef drop-offs where there are strong currents.[2] It reaches a maximum length of 9 cm (3 in).[2] This species is often found in pairs and is monogamous.[2] They feed on zooplankton, especially the larvae of copepods and crustaceans.[2] They will dart into holes when alarmed.[2] The populations of this species from the western Indian Ocean have been recognised by some workers as a distinct species, Nemateleotris exquisita, however, the validity of this taxon needs more taxonomic research.[1]

  1. ^ a b Greenfield, D.; Munroe, T.A. (2016). "Nemateleotris decora". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T69128478A69130388. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T69128478A69130388.en.
  2. ^ a b c d e Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Nemateleotris decora". FishBase. Apr 2007 version.

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