Scientific Name
Malacanthus latovittatus

Common Name
Blue blanquillo

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 3 - 4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 43-47; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 37 - 40. Bluish in color; lower caudal rays black; in juveniles the black midlateral band extends from tip of snout to caudal fin (Ref. 5591).

Classification

Classified By

Lacep?de, 1801

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Tilefishes (Malacanthidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea, Kenya, Mozambique, the Aldabra and Inhaca islands, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, hyposaline waters of Goldie River in New Guinea, Melanesia, south to only New Caledonia; Okinawa, Philippines and Micronesian waters, Palau, east to Hawaiian Islands, Fanning Islands and Samoa. Apparently not found off New Zealand (Ref. 8991). Reported from Australia.

Range

35°N - 25°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

22 °C

Water Temperature To

28 °C

Depth From - meters

5 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 5 - ? m (Ref. 8991), usually 20 - 65 m (Ref. 27115)

Trophic Level

3.5 s.e. 0.50 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

45.0 cm

Common Length

35.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.6250 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (52 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated