What kind of Anthias are these?

[Seafan]

Anthias always confuse me :spin3: they are so pretty and they look so much alike. is #2 and #3 the same species? is #4 anthias? is #1 a Lyretail?

#1

#2

#3

#4

TIA!

 

[Amazon4]

The top three look like lyretail to me (1 = M, 2 & 3 = F). The last photo (4) looks like a type of flasher wrasse.

 

[SDguy]

the top three look like lyretail to me (1 = m, 2 & 3 = f). The last photo (4) looks like a type of flasher wrasse.

+1

 

[snorvich]

The top three look like lyretail to me (1 = M, 2 & 3 = F). The last photo (4) looks like a type of flasher wrasse.

+2, I agree with Peter.

 

[SDguy]

Just to elaborate, those lyretails look to be African/Maldive/Indian Ocean variety.

 

[NexDog]

Yea, my male looks like #1. Never did go deep purple like I see some. Mine were marked as "Indo" which is prolly Maldives area.

 

[SDguy]

Yea, my male looks like #1. Never did go deep purple like I see some. Mine were marked as "Indo" which is prolly Maldives area.

From the pics I found (dive shots) the maldive ones are maroon colored, like my old male. Red Sea slightly brighter red, with lots more yellow scaling. Nearest I could tell, "African" ones are a bright bright red.

 

[Seafan]

Thanks for the replies! Are these also Lyretails?

#5

#6

what about these?

#7

#8

 

[SDguy]

5. Red Sea or African lyretail male
6. Indo lyretail male
7. Tough call... guessing by the slight red edge to the dorsal fin that it could be an Indo female, even though the overall brightness suggests Maldive.
8. female squarespot.

 

[Seafan]

5. Red Sea or African lyretail male
6. Indo lyretail male
7. Tough call... guessing by the slight red edge to the dorsal fin that it could be an Indo female, even though the overall brightness suggests Maldive.
8. female squarespot.

Thanks for clearing it up Peter!

 

[Nova101]

What are the differences between the indo, maldives and red sea lyretails?

Thank you.

 

[SDguy]

Basically, with females, not much. Indo are slightly darker orange, some can be less bright. Usually some reddish edging to the dorsal fin.

Males look completely different...

Indo:
http://www.aquaguide.net/images/pages/7/psquamipd2.jpg

http://www.aquafauna.be/marins/Fish/Fairy Basslets/Pseudanthias squamipinnis.JPG

Maldive:

Red Sea:

CarlC can probably elaborate more on this topic

 

[CarlC]

One of the easiest ways of telling locale among these species is by looking at the scales on the lateral line. Lots of fine scales and it is from the Indo group which is known as Pseudanthias cheirospilos. Larger scales represent Pseudanthias squamipinnis.
The finer differances are:

P. squamipinnis
lunate caudal fin
caudal fin edged in yellow

P. cheirospilos
almost truncate to truncate caudal fin
caudal fin edged in blue
This species is very common and plentiful around reefs in the Philippines. I saw them by the hundreds or thousands around reefs on the west side of Negros.

Body color is not the best indicator as all forms can range in color from red to purple depending on social status and time of year.

The third form ranges around the central pacific. Males from this form have solid color scales where as males from the other two have yellow spotted scales. This species can be found as a green form.

Hope this helps.

Carl

 

[CarlC]

1,2,3,5 Squamipinnis western indian ocean to red sea.
6 Indo pacific Cheirospilos
7 and 8 are probably the same as 6 but hard to tell from the pic.

Carl