Parazanclistius
Parazanclistius is a genus of fish in the family Serranidae, the sea basses. They are commonly known as the soapfishes. There are four recognized species within the genus, all endemic to the Pacific Ocean.
Characteristics
Parazanclistius species are characterized by their elongated, slender bodies with a compressed, deep head. They typically have a small mouth with a single, small canine tooth at the front of the lower jaw. Their body is covered in small, rough scales, and they possess a lateral line that extends to the tail fin. The dorsal fin is continuous and has spines in the anterior portion, followed by soft rays. The anal fin also has spines followed by soft rays. These fishes are typically brightly colored, with a distinctive red or orange stripe running along the side of their body. They can reach lengths of up to 30 cm.
Environment and Distribution
Parazanclistius species are found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific Ocean. They inhabit a range of environments, including coral reefs, rocky shores, and seagrass beds. They are typically found in depths of 10 to 50 meters. Parazanclistius are solitary and generally sit motionless on the substrate. Their feeding strategy involves waiting for prey to come within reach, and then ambushing it.
Species
There are four recognized species of Parazanclistius:
- Parazanclistius armatus (Regan, 1908)
- Parazanclistius falklandicus (Norman, 1939)
- Parazanclistius rubripinnis (Fowler, 1938)
- Parazanclistius spilurus (Günther, 1872)
References
* [FishBase](https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Parazanclistius.html)* [ITIS](https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=167572)