Doratonotus megalepis
Dwarf Wrasse
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Labridae (Wrasses)
Doratonotus
Doratonotus megalepis (Dwarf Wrasse)
Description
This species account was compiled from
FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version 04/2025.)
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Characters
Body shape: fusiform / normal. Color primarily grass green; usually some scattered small white or pale blue spots on head and body; small reddish brown spot near upper edge of caudal fin and another near lower edge (Ref. 13442).
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Bermuda and southern Florida, USA to Brazil (Ref. 57756). Eastern Atlantic: Cape Verde Is, and São Tomé.
Habitat Associations
Marine. reef-associated. depth range 1-15 m.
Biology
Inhabits shallow beds of turtle grass (Thalassia). Common but seldom noticed (Ref. 9710).
Max length: 9.4 cm TL; max weight: 11 g.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; mating system: monogamy. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2009-03-25. Resilience: High (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial.
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray (1986) A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p.
Cervigón, F. (1993) Los peces marinos de Venezuela. Volume 2. Fundación Científica Los Roques, Caracas,Venezuela. 497 p.
Lieske, E. and R. Myers (1994) Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
Randall, J.E. (1996) Caribbean reef fishes. Third Edition - revised and enlarged. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Ltd., Hong Kong. 3nd ed. 368 p.
Comments On Doratonotus megalepis