Hemiemblemaria simula

Species infomation

Distinctive features:

1. Yellow body
2. Black stripe along head and often body.
3. Black blotch on front of dorsal fin.
4. Red iris.
5. No cirri.

Physical description:

No cirri.

Colouration:

Body often yellow but can be whitish. Belly and lower head white. Stripe from front of upper lips to opercle edge - and often to the caudal base - can be a conspicuous black or a faint light brown. May be a black blotch at end of stripe at caudal base. Iris red. Lower dorsal fin a yellow-green, upper dorsal fin translucent to red. Black blotch on upper front dorsal fin.
Juveniles: translucent but can seem yellowish or white. White belly. Broad black stripe from front of upper lips to caudal base where it ends in a blotch. Another black stripe along upper body but varies and length and can be broken. Dorsal fin transparent or with a black base. Older juveniles with the black blotch at the front of the dorsal fin.

Size:

Reaches 11.3 cm.

Habitat:

Found in worm tubes and free-swimming in reefs.