Carlson Anthias

Escape Reef to Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea and east Fiji. Deep reef habitats with rich coral and sponge growth at depths of 40m or more. Usually in small groups of mixed sex, but females greatly outnumber males. Adults pinkish with or without a red spot midway on the spinous section of the dorsal fin, that looks black in deep water, and a pale vertical red bar on side above abdomen. The red bar in males may turn white in nuptial males. Length to just over 10cm.