The Red Sea sub-species D. excisus abbreviatus has been identified, and its closely related species Doryrhamphus bicarinatus has recently been recorded from the Maldives.
Details
§ 01
size
Max. 8 cm
color
Bluish mid-lateral stripe on orange to reddish background and small fan like tail.
The dorsal fin has 21 to 29 rays, the body has 17 to 19 rings, the tail has 13 to 17 rings, and the sub-dorsal trunk has 3 to 5 rings. The superior trunk and tail ridges are discontinuous, the inferior trunk ridge ends on the anal ring, and the lateral trunk ridge is continuous with the inferior tail ridge.