| Habitat | Reproduction |
| Behavior | Diver Interaction |

Scott Michael Photo

Larger Photo

Alternate Common Names:

Family Name:
SERRANIDAE
Click Name for Family Profile

Size:
This species attains a maximum length of 5.5 cm (2.1 inches).

Distribution:
Marianas east to the Pitcairn group, south to the Great Barrier Reef.

Habitat:
This species occurs at depths of 40 to 120 m (132 to 396 feet), but is most abundant at depths greater than 90 m (297 feet). For example, at Enewetak Atoll P. ventralis is the most common fish species at depths between 90 and 120 m (297 to 396 feet). This habitat consists of a medium to steep reef slope, with sand, rocky rubble, small caves, shallow ledges, gorgonians, black corals, Halimeda and encrusting sponges.

Distinguishing Characteristics:
This species has prolonged pelvic and anal fins. The tips of the pelvic fins reach past the base of the anal fin in males, while in females its well past the anal origin. In P. ventralis males have a violet section toward the tail, the head is yellow with fusha lines behind the eyes and the anal fin is yellow. In females the head, back and anal fin are mostly yellow and the ventral half of the body is lavender, with a more distinct demarcation between the lavender of the dorsum and the yellow of the ventral region than its Hawaiian counterparts.

Remarks:
Some ichthyologists have suggested that this species actually represents three distinct forms, or valid species. They consider P. ventralis populations from Japan and Australia to be distinct from each other and from those that inhabit the rest of the Western and South Pacific.

References:
Kuiter (pers. comm.), Thresher & Colin (1986)

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