CIRRHILABRUS SCOTTORUM - (RANDALL & PYLE, 1989)
Picture courtesy of: Nicolas Charpin
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Labriformes (Order) > Labroidei (Suborder) > Labridae (Family) > Cirrhilabrus (Genus)
Labre Nain de Scott, Scott's Wrasse, Scott's fairy-wrasse, Scotts Zwerglippfisch, 暗丝隆头鱼,
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9; Pectoral fin rays: 15-16 (usually: 16); Median predorsal scales: 5; Rows of scales on cheek: 2; Caudal fin rhomboid, large males with filament form middle of posterior margin. Depth range: 3 - 40 m. Max. length: 13.0 cm TL.
Color
Body is green posteriorly, shading to dusky blue-green in the middle, and to brighter blue-green anteriorly and on postorbital portion of the head; Lower fourth of the body light red; Postorbital head and anterior upper half of the body finely speckled with black; Snout greenish yellow. Females are mostly reddish, with fine black speckles anteriorly.
Etymology
Cirrhilabrus: from Latin, cirrus = curl, fringe + from Latin, labrum = lip, rim or edge (type genus of family). Referring to the big lips of the fishes of the genus (from Ovid (Pūblius Ovidius Nāsō (43 BC - 17/18 AD), known in English as Ovid, was a Roman poet who lived during the reign of Augustus) and Pliny (Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/24 - 79), called Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist and natural philosopher, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the emperor Vespasian. He wrote the encyclopedic Naturalis Historia (Natural History), which became an editorial model for encyclopedias) according to Petrus Artedi (Peter Artedi or Petrus Arctaedius (1705 - 1735) was a Swedish naturalist who is known as the "father of ichthyology")).
scottorum: named in honor of Sir Peter (1909-1989) and Lady Philippa Scott (1918-2010), for their “great contribution in nature conservation. Both have a keen interest in marine life of tropic seas, particularly of fishes. They organized the dive cruise to the Coral Sea and accompanied (the authors) to Osprey Reef where (they) collected and photographed this lovely fish. They marveled at the beauty of its color, and Sir Peter painted a portrait of it.”
Original description: Cirrhilabrus scottorum Randall & Pyle, 1989 - Type locality: Outside barrier reef about 1/4 mile east of Teavaraa Pass, Papara, Tahiti, Society Islands, depth 12 meters.
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Labriformes (Order) > Labroidei (Suborder) > Labridae (Family) > Cirrhilabrus (Genus)
Labre Nain de Scott, Scott's Wrasse, Scott's fairy-wrasse, Scotts Zwerglippfisch, 暗丝隆头鱼,
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9; Pectoral fin rays: 15-16 (usually: 16); Median predorsal scales: 5; Rows of scales on cheek: 2; Caudal fin rhomboid, large males with filament form middle of posterior margin. Depth range: 3 - 40 m. Max. length: 13.0 cm TL.
Color
Body is green posteriorly, shading to dusky blue-green in the middle, and to brighter blue-green anteriorly and on postorbital portion of the head; Lower fourth of the body light red; Postorbital head and anterior upper half of the body finely speckled with black; Snout greenish yellow. Females are mostly reddish, with fine black speckles anteriorly.
Etymology
Cirrhilabrus: from Latin, cirrus = curl, fringe + from Latin, labrum = lip, rim or edge (type genus of family). Referring to the big lips of the fishes of the genus (from Ovid (Pūblius Ovidius Nāsō (43 BC - 17/18 AD), known in English as Ovid, was a Roman poet who lived during the reign of Augustus) and Pliny (Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/24 - 79), called Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist and natural philosopher, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the emperor Vespasian. He wrote the encyclopedic Naturalis Historia (Natural History), which became an editorial model for encyclopedias) according to Petrus Artedi (Peter Artedi or Petrus Arctaedius (1705 - 1735) was a Swedish naturalist who is known as the "father of ichthyology")).
scottorum: named in honor of Sir Peter (1909-1989) and Lady Philippa Scott (1918-2010), for their “great contribution in nature conservation. Both have a keen interest in marine life of tropic seas, particularly of fishes. They organized the dive cruise to the Coral Sea and accompanied (the authors) to Osprey Reef where (they) collected and photographed this lovely fish. They marveled at the beauty of its color, and Sir Peter painted a portrait of it.”
Original description: Cirrhilabrus scottorum Randall & Pyle, 1989 - Type locality: Outside barrier reef about 1/4 mile east of Teavaraa Pass, Papara, Tahiti, Society Islands, depth 12 meters.
Distribution
Southwestern and South Pacific: Coral Sea, east to Pitcairn Island.
Biology
More common in outer reef areas than sheltered lagoon reefs. Usually seen in small groups feeding a short distance above the bottom on zooplankton. These groups are composed mainly of females and juveniles. Males in courtship, actively swim up to 3 m or more above the bottom with fins fully erect. Distinct pairing during breeding. Aquarium fish.
Last update: 9, February 2025
Southwestern and South Pacific: Coral Sea, east to Pitcairn Island.
Biology
More common in outer reef areas than sheltered lagoon reefs. Usually seen in small groups feeding a short distance above the bottom on zooplankton. These groups are composed mainly of females and juveniles. Males in courtship, actively swim up to 3 m or more above the bottom with fins fully erect. Distinct pairing during breeding. Aquarium fish.
Last update: 9, February 2025