For Hiroyuki...

[Anonymous]

Dr. Tanaka,

Can you please confirm the identity of this fish for me? I have been calling this a female Cirrhilabrus solorensis but am not positive. Can you tell me the visual difference between this fish and a Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura?

Best,
Matt

 

[Hiroyuki Tanaka]

It is a young male of cyanopleura, not solorensis, but it is very interesting in that it has a blue abdomen.

 

[Anonymous]

It is a young male of cyanopleura, not solorensis, but it is very interesting in that it has a blue abdomen.

I'm sorry, I should have pointed out that this is a large specimen, probably around 5-6". It is at least 6 years old.

Can you tell me the important differences between the two?

 

[Hiroyuki Tanaka]

Really ?

I am sorry; now it seems to me a large adult of cyanopleura in a rich coloration. There is no black band behind eye, and this suggests that it is cyanopleura. A nice specimen.

 

[Pavaphon]

Agree with Hiroyuki, to me it also look more like C. cyanoplura