Sea goldie
Pseudanthias squamipinnis
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Sea goldie
- Scientific
- Pseudanthias squamipinnis
- Dhivehi
- ކަށިކެޔޮ މަސްKashikeyo mas
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- Up to about 15 cm (total length)
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 0 to 55 m (usually 5 to 35 m)
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2015
Description
The most familiar anthias: females are bright orange-gold with a violet stripe under the eye, and males are magenta to purple with a long third dorsal spine and a red spot on the pectoral fin. It forms huge swarms above coral outcrops, channels and outer slopes, feeding on zooplankton. Each group has a few territorial males with harems of females; if a male dies, the largest female turns into a male.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name kashikeyo mas (MRS 1997). One of the most abundant fish on Maldivian thila and reef walls.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Pseudanthias-squamipinnis.html
- fishbase.se /comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=6568&GenusName=Pseudanthias&SpeciesNa
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Anthias_cola_de_lira_(Pseudanthias_squamipinnis),_parque_na
Dhivehi name source: FishBase common names (country: Maldives) give 'Kashikeyo mas' (Latin script). Thaana 'ކަށިކެޔޮ މަސް' taken from the Dhivehi Wikipedia list of MRS 1997 species (no article); linked to this species by matching its transliteration to the Latin form 'Kashikeyo mas'. FishBase also lists 'Ry-bureki' under India (Minicoy/Lakshadweep Mahl dialect); not used. FLAG: Thaana linked by transliteration match; confirm.