Pseudanthias thompsoni


Pseudanthias thompsoni, also called the Hawaiian or Thompsonʻs anthias, is a marine fish species in the family Anthiadidae.

Description and Anatomy

Pseudanthias thompsoni is about nine inches long with a bright neon orange body, and a tinge of purple on its fins and around its eyes. The tail is u-shaped with pointed tips. Males are larger than females. Pseudanthias thompsoni mainly feeds on zooplankton such as copepods and shrimp larvae.

Distribution and Habitat

Pseudanthias thompsoni is located in the Pacific Ocean, specifically the Ogasawara Islands and Hawaii. Recently there has been a growing number of them along three atolls towards the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. In 2012, many juveniles were found in deep coral reefs, utilizing the algae beds for protection.