Description

Dorsal spines (total): 9 - 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 14; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 12; Vertebrae: 24. This species differs from its congeners by the following characters: fewer lateral-line scales; reddish-brown bars on the side about 15 to 17; behind the eye is an obliquely angled, blue-edged yellow-orange stripe; across the operculum a thin blue stripe; across the entire caudal peduncle, a neon blue region; vivid red central caudal fin-rays (Ref. 75884).

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Eupercaria/misc

Family: Malacanthidae

Genus: Hoplolatilus

Species: Hoplolatilus erdmanni Allen, 2007

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

The areas of occurrence are exposed to periodic strong currents with about 15 individuals observed on gentle rubble slopes at depths of 42-60 m; seen solitarily, in pairs, or trios and generally in close proximity to large rubble mounds (estimated to range from 50-60 cm in height and 1.8-2 m in diameter. When approached too closely or frightened by spear shots, the fish quickly retreated into their burrow which are at the apex of the mound (Ref. 75884).

Habitat

demersal