Pseudochromis nigrovittatus Boulenger, 1897
Blackstripe dottyback
Pseudochromis nigrovittatus
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Pseudochromidae (Dottybacks), subfamily: Pseudochrominae
Max. size:  9 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 15 m
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: from the Makran Coast and Persian Gulf around the Arabian Peninsula to the southern Red Sea and south to Socotra (Ref. 88695). Species occur in two main color forms: with and without the broad, dark brown to dark grey stripe on the side of the body (Ref. 12720).
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  A cryptic species; collected from tide pools, around boulders, and rock and coral reefs. May sometimes take refuge among spines of large Diadema sea urchins (Ref. 12720). In Socotra Archipelago, it inhabits equally frequently mixed communities of macroalgae and hard corals and sparse hard coral communities on rock platform, including the south and west coast, as well as hard coral communities including those dominated by Acropora, Porites, Galaxea, and encrusting and massive Agariciidae, Pectiniidae, and Mussidae (Ref. 88695).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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