Marine Life

Twotone chromis

Ehkibadhon nilamehi

Chromis dimidiata

Chromis dimidiata is a common species in the Maldives, often seen in small, widely spaced, stationary schools hovering around one meter above coral formations. Specimens from the Maldives typically have a pale area extending anteriorly on the dorsal fin, which is not seen in specimens from further west.

Details

§ 01

size: Common to 5 cm; max. 9 cm
color: Head and anterior half of body dark brown, becoming abruptly white posteriorly. A black spot at base of pectoral fins.
order: Perciformes
family: Pomacentridae
image url: https://assets.explore.mv/fishes/chromis-dimidiata.png
habitat and biology: This species can be found in a variety of depths, ranging from reef flats to up to 30 m deep. Its diet consists mainly of plankton.
distinctive characters: The dorsal fin has 12 spines and 11-12 (usually 12) rays, the anal fin has 2 spines and 12 rays, the pectoral rays range from 15-17, and the body depth is 2.0-2.1 in standard length. Additionally, the upper and lower edges of the caudal fin base have two small spines, the suborbital bones are scaled with their lower edges being smooth, the preopercular margin is smooth, and the caudal fin is forked with two filamentous rays at the lobe tips.