Family Pseudochromidae |
According to FishBase there are 98 species of dottybacks in 16 genera. The majority of information on the web is about keeping dottybacks in aquaria. The largest species reaches 50 cm but most are 10cm or smaller. In some species the sexes are different colors. Those I have photographed are typically investigating a small home range of at most a couple of meters. They will emerge from a crevice for a few seconds and then disappear into a crack only to emerge again a few secods later in a totally different location. This doesn't seem to be a response to my presence. I have observed dottybacks from a distance and their behavior remains the same. This makes them a challenge to photograph. But many of them are brightly colored and this makes the wait totally worthwhile. Some dottybacks are mouthbrooders (that is they keep the eggs in their mouth until they hatch) but most lay eggs on the bottom where they are guarded by the male. They feed on small invertebrates and fish.
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Cypho zaps dottyback |
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FISH 3327 Cypho zaps dottyback, Raja Ampat, West Papua |
Pictichromis coralensis Bicolor dottyback |
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FISH 8556 Pictichromis coralensis Bicolor dottyback, Steve's Bommie, Great Barrier Reef |
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FISH 8547 Pictichromis coralensis Bicolor dottyback, Steve's Bommie, Great Barrier Reef |
FISH 0398(2) Pseudochromis ammeri Raja dottyback female, Raja Ampat, West Papua |
FISH 0398 Pseudochromis ammeri Raja dottyback female, Raja Ampat, West Papua. |
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Pseudochromis ammeri , Max's dottyback, male, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat. |
Pseudochromis diadema Purpletop dottyback |
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FISH 4832 Pseudochromis diadema Purpletop dottyback, Puerto Galera, Philippines. |
Pseudochromis flavivertex Sunrise dottyback |
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FISH 2053 Pseudochromis flavivertex Sunrise dottyback Red Sea |
Pseudochromis fridmani Purple Dottyback |
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FISH 2024 Pseudochromis fridmani Purple Dottyback Red Sea |
Pseudochromis fuscus Dusky dottyback |
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FISH 0020 Pseudochromis fuscus Dusky dottyback Raja Ampat. |
Pseudochromis perspicillatus Southeast Asian blackstripe dottyback |
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FISH 7998 Pseudochromis perspicillatus Southeast Asian blackstripe dottyback, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat. |
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FISH 8004 Pseudochromis perspicillatus Southeast Asian blackstripe dottyback, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat. |
Pseudochromis porphyreus Magenta dottyback |
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FISH 3010 Pseudochromis porphyreus Magenta dottyback, Raja Ampat, West Papua |
Pseudochromis splendens Splendid dottyback |
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FISH 3959 Pseudochromis splendens Splendid dottyback, Raja Ampat, West Papua. |
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FISH 9649 Pseudochromis splendens Splendid dottyback Raja Ampat. |
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