Species infomation
Distinctive features:
- Orbital cirri present.
- Males with white and dark stripes on lower cheek.
- Breeding males with white-bordered red banner.
Physical description:
Simple nasal and orbital cirri.
Females: first 2 dorsal spines slightly elevated followed by a notch.
Colouration:
Females: largely transparent with yellowish front of body and heady. Reddish to green vertebral column. Rear cheek reddish. Black/red spots on lower head and lower jaw. Front of dorsal fin white. Dorsal, anal and caudal fin with green speckling.
Males: transparent body with yellowish front of body and head. Rear cheek red and looks like red stripes between white ones. Belly yellow with black blotches at back. Front of dorsal fin white with brown wavy lines and an orange-red banner at the top. Banner faintly margined by white on the bottom. First 3/4 of anal fin outer edge with dark green stripe.
Mating males: black head and front of body. Red stripes on rear cheek sometimes visible. Front dorsal fin black with a rich red banner clearly bordered ventrally with white. First 3/4 of anal fin now with much broader dark stripe.
Size:
Reaches 3.0 cm.
Habitat:
Found on reefs. Breeding males in holes.
Species images and information
E. bottomei has no orbital cirri. The breeding male of E. bottomei lacks a banner on the dorsal fin. Females and immature males of E. falcon have red and white stripes on the lower cheek.
E. randalli has no orbital cirri. Females of E. randalli have a stripe from behind the eye to the caudal base and have a white iris with a diagonal line. Breeding males of E. falcon have a wavy banner, while E. randalli has a straight one.