Neoclinus nudus

Species infomation

Distinctive features:

1. Either orange/red or black.
2. Dark individuals can have black and white bands along body.
3. Orange/red individuals with black spots on operculum.
4. No ocelli on dorsal fin.

Physical description:

Branched nasal cirri. 7 orbital cirri over each eye, assembled in 2 rows of 4 in the outer and 3 in the inner.

Colouration:

Two main colour morphs, a red-orange one and a dark one - both of which have a patterned and patternless form.
Red-orange morph: head a bright red/orange. Operculum with darker spots. Plain individuals uniformly a yellow to red. Patterned ones with ~10 stripes which merge on the lower body. Colour of these range from yellow to red. Part of stripe on upper body can be separated by white blotches. Dorsal fin base with yellow to red blotches which can also be separated by white.
Dark morph: dark brown to black head; plain individuals with simple black body also. Patterned ones with thick black bands interspaced by white.

Size:

Reaches 5.2 cm.

Habitat:

Found on rocky reefs.