Anampses meleagrides is a beautiful species which is widespread on Maldivian reefs, and A. amboinensis Bleeker, a synonym based on the male form, is a popular aquarium fish.
Details
§ 01
size
Max. 21 cm
color
Females dark brown with numerous small round dark spots, tail yellow. Males dark orange-brown with numerous fine blue markings (vertical on sides, horizontal on belly, irregular on head, spots and a white crescent posteriorly on tail).
order
Perciformes
family
Labridae
habitat and biology
Discovered on the outer edges of atolls. Plentiful in regions of plentiful coral growth.
distinctive characters
This fish has a dorsal fin with nine spines and twelve rays, an anal fin with three spines and twelve rays, a pectoral fin with thirteen rays, eighteen to twenty gill rakers on the first gill arch, a body depth of three point one to three point four in standard length, a moderately elongated body, no median predorsal scales, and a caudal fin that is truncate to emarginate.