Marine Life

Blue-green chromis

Nilamehi

Chromis viridis

Chromis viridis is commonly used as bait for pole and line tuna fishery in the Maldives, particularly on the eastern side during the north east monsoon and on the western side during the southwest monsoon. Previously recorded as C. caeruleus in the Catalogue of Fishes of the Maldives, Vol. 1, page 116, this name is now invalid.

Details

§ 01

size: Max. 8 cm
color: Blue-green shading to whitish ventrally. A faint dusky spot at upper base of pectoral fin. A blue line from front of snout to eyes. Nesting male yellow with black dorsal.
order: Perciformes
family: Pomacentridae
image url: https://assets.explore.mv/fishes/chromis-viridis.png
habitat and biology: Frequently found in shallow lagoons, these fish form large groups and feed on plankton above coral beds in depths ranging from 1.5 to 12 meters.
distinctive characters: The dorsal fin has 12 spines and 9-10 rays, the anal fin has 2 spines and 10-11 rays, the pectoral rays are 17-18, the body depth is 2.0-2.1 in standard length, the suborbital bones are scaled with lower margins that are smooth, the preopercular margin is smooth, and the caudal fin is forked.