Scientific Name
Pseudochromis matahari
Common Name
Sunburst Dottyback
Biology
Dorsal
spines
(total): 3;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 26;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 16. Distinguished from all other pseudochromines by the following characters: dorsal-fin rays III,26; anal-fin rays III,16; anal-fin spines moderately slender and weakly pungent, the second spine only slightly stouter than the third; lower lip weakly interrupted at symphysis; and circumpeduncular scales 16. It also has a distinctive live coloration: head orange-brown, becoming bright yellow on lower part of operculum; posterior and ventral part of orbital rim bright yellow, edged posteriorly and ventrally by purple-blue arc; scales of cheek indistinctly edged with mauve; body orange-brown, darker on scale-edges, becoming bright yellow on breast and pectoral-fin base, bright red on abdomen and above anterior anal fin, then dark purplish red on caudal peduncle; dorsal fin golden to orange-brown anteriorly, becoming reddish brown posteriorly, with reddish brown distal margin; 1-3 rows of