Marine Life

Fusilier damsel

Bureki

Lepidozygus tapeinosoma

Lepidozygus tapeinosoma is used as bait in pole and line tuna fishery, with its use varying seasonally depending on the availability of other, more easily collected species. Near Malé, it is most commonly used during the northeast monsoon season and the preceding intermonsoon.

Details

§ 01

size: Max. 9 cm
color: Olive to purplish on back becoming paler below. Dorsal and anal fins purplish brown with orange coloured oblique stripes. Last three dorsal rays orange coloured. Pectoral and pelvic fins pink.
order: Perciformes
family: Pomacentridae
image url: https://assets.explore.mv/fishes/lepidozygus-tapeinosoma.png
habitat and biology: This species typically inhabits the upper edge of outer reef slopes at depths of up to 30 meters, although it can also occasionally be found on lagoon reefs. It is most common in areas with rich coral growth and is usually found in aggregations with Nemanthias carberryi. It feeds on zooplankton well above the bottom of the ocean.
distinctive characters: The dorsal fin has 12 spines and 14-15 rays, the anal fin has 2 spines and 15-16 rays, the pectoral rays are 21-22, the body depth is 2.8-3.1 in standard length, the body is elongated, and the hind margin of the preopercle is finely serrated. The caudal fin is deeply forked with lobes that are somewhat filamentous.