Maj. Dwarf Parrot - Coral Sea

Name Cirrhilabrus temminckii is used for a species-complex and the true species occurs in southern Japan from Izu Peninsula to the Ryukyu Islands. Variants in Indonesia and western Australia probably represent additional species (see opposite page). Non-excited males are bright red over the back, dusky to red on sides and have white ventrals that are greatly elongated. Nuptial males turn a blue white over the back. A schooling species, occurring along reef margins to about 25m depth. Adults may feed high  above the substrate on zooplankton, but juveniles remain close to the substrate. Length to 10cm.