Allen's tubelip

Appearance

Slender, brown head, yellow green mid-body, white rear and tail. Large ocellated spot at pectoral base, small black spot on front of dorsal fin and rear belly.

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10; Vertebrae: 25. Male differ from female in lacking the dark spot above origin of anal fin, the 1 or 2 narrow dark stripes anteriorly on body, and the dark spot anteriorly on the dorsal fin. Posterior caudal peduncle and fin white; upper and lower procurrent caudal rays usually 7. Preopercular margin free from corner to level of mouth; suborbital pores 7-9; preopercular pores 8-11.

Distribution

Western Central Pacific: Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Palau, and Marshall Islands.

Status

Least Concern.

Habitat

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 4 - 52 m. Occurs in lagoon and seaward reefs, in areas with dense coral growth and on steep slopes, solitary or in pairs.

Reproduction

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding.

Uses

Aquaria trade.