Wreck Fish - West Ind Ocean

Widespread Indian Ocean and Red Sea. Various rocky and coral reef habitats. In some areas, such as in the Red Sea, they occur in massive numbers when feeding on zooplankton. Adults with long filamentous third dorsal spine and caudal fin deeply lunate with lobes increasingly elongating with age. Females are bright yellow to deep orange with yellow fins. Males purplish red with pale sides, most scales with a yellow central spot. The caudal fin has a yellow posterior margin that is most obvious in large individuals which readily distinguishes it from its Pacific siblings. Length to 12cm, excluding filamentous tips. It grows largest in the southern limit of its range off the eastern coast of South Africa where it is called Sea Goldie.