Hypoplectrus castroaguirrei Del Moral Flores, Tello-Musi & Martínez-Pérez, 2012
Hypoplectrus castroaguirrei
photo by Tello Musi, J.L.

Family:  Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets)
Max. size:  9.324 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 0 - 3 m
Distribution:  Western Central Atlantic: SW part of the Veracruz Reef System (VRS), Mexican Gulf.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-15; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-7. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the its coloration pattern: pale yellow body with a black vertical bar going from the dorsal edge of the head to the edge of the ventral preopercle; triangular black spot at the preopercle and another one that runs along the caudal peduncle; head with iridescent blue vertical lines bordering the eyespot, the contour of the eye socket and the triangular spot; anal, caudal and pelvic fins are bright yellow; pectoral fins are very faint yellow; dorsal fin is pale yellow with oblique positioned blue stripes (Ref. 90371).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 09 January 2014 (B1ab(i,ii,iii)+2ab(i,ii,iii)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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