// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Southern blue devil say? "I'm a sucker for trouble.
| Southern blue devil | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Blenniiformes |
| Family: | Plesiopidae |
| Genus: | Paraplesiops |
| Species: | P. meleagris |
| Binomial name | |
| Paraplesiops meleagris (Peters, 1869) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The southern blue devil (Paraplesiops meleagris) is a species of ray-finned fish in the longfin family Plesiopidae. Endemic to southern Australia, it is a close relative of the eastern blue devil (P. bleekeri), which lives in coastal waters of eastern Australia, and of the western blue devil (P. sinclairi) of southwestern Western Australia.
Description
[edit]The southern blue devil grows to about 33 cm in length. The body is dark blue to bluish-grey and densely covered in brighter blue spots, and the dorsal, pelvic, anal and pelvic fins have a pale blue margin. The dorsal, anal and pelvic fins are relatively large.[2][3]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]The southern blue devil is found along the southern Australian coastline, from South Australia to eastern Victoria. It occupies reefs, ledges, crevices, and deep cave systems, at depths ranging from 3 to over 40 m, sometimes in small groups containing individuals of sizes varying from small juveniles to mature adults.[2]
Behavior
[edit]Breeding
[edit]Eggs are laid on a substrate and are guarded by the male until they hatch.[2]
Feeding
[edit]This species feeds on small fish, crabs and gastropods.[2][3]
References
[edit]- ↑ Williams, J.T. (2022). "Paraplesiops meleagris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022 e.T214366294A214366300. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T214366294A214366300.en. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 "Southern Blue Devil". Animal species. Australian Museum. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
- 1 2 "Paraplesiops meleagris". fishesofaustralia.net.au. Archived from the original on 2025-04-05. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
External links
[edit]
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