Neoclinus nudiceps

Species infomation

Distinctive features:

1. Males indistinct, white spots on lower jaw.
2. Females with pale lower head and a red webbing pattern.
3. Females with alternating rows of red and white stripes on dorsal fin.
4. 2 pairs of short orbital cirri.

Physical description:

Branched nasal cirri. 2 pairs of short orbital cirri, posterior branched and anterior simple.

Colouration:

Males: brown with a darker head. Body plain with few patterns, but may have faint blue-grey lines on midflank. Front of dorsal fin a solid brown. Lower jaw with white spots. Females a dark, rich brown. Lower head a light brown. Head and lips with a red webbing which becomes larger and more obvious on the lower head and jaw. Row of white blotches just below midflank, first few upside-down U-shaped which reach lower body. Blotches become smaller and shorter posteriorly. Upper body with white marbling pattern. First 2/3 of dorsal spines with horizontal, slightly slanted, red alternating white stripes. This tapers off into a broad red stripe on the base for the rest of the 1/3 of the fin. Base of caudal fin white and caudal rays red fading to yellow.

Size:

Reaches 4.7 cm.

Habitat:

Found in holes in rocks.

Notes:

Photos of this species can be found here.