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Species: Parahollardia schmidti, Three-line spikefish

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flat between eyes
head profile not v steep
tan + 3 pink stripes
skin over eyes: 1-2 patches scales

Parahollardia schmidti Woods, 1959

Three-line spikefish

Body deep, slightly compressed; space between eyes more or less flat; front head profile not very steep (~35 degrees); mouth small, opens at front; teeth  conical, 2 series on each jaw, 2-4 (1-10) teeth inside continuous outer row; top teeth 13 (11-15),  bottom teeth 15.5 (10-20); gill opening a short vertical slit before pectoral base; gill rakers 14 (12-17); dorsal fin origin usually before top edge of pectoral base; VI dorsal spines, the first long and strong, decreasing in size to rear, spines can be locked upright, 15-16 soft rays; pectoral 13 (12-14) rays; anal fin 14 (13-15);  fin rays branched; pelvic fin with a large spine and 1 inconspicuous ray; ventral surface of scale-covered part of pelvis triangular in cross section; skin thick, rough, covered with numerous small scales, each with tiny spines; skin over eyes usually with 1-2 patches of scales.

Head & body yellowish tan; mature males with 3 irregular broad pink lines along nape, upper head, body and tail base; iris pale brown, with a thin inner gold ring; rays of dorsal, tail and anal fins white; inside gill chamber variable, a few dark areas to all dark; lining of stomach cavity light tan, speckled with darker tan.

Reaches 10 cm.

Lives on soft bottoms.

Depth range: 140-550 m.

W Caribbean.


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore
  • Inshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Bottom only
  • Bottom
Habitat
  • Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
  • Mud
  • Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
  • Reef and soft bottom
  • Corals
  • Reef (rock/coral/oyster)
FishBase Habitat
  • Reef Associated
  • Bathydemersal
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • Planktivore
  • Data
Diet
  • Zooplankton
  • Data
  • Bony fishes
Egg Type
  • Data
  • Pelagic
  • Pelagic larva
Global Endemism
  • All species.
  • Greater Caribbean endemic
  • West Atlantic Endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Continent + Island (s)
  • All species..
  • Continental primarily
  • GC endemic
  • Continent
  • Caribbean endemic
  • Island (s)
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Equatorial (0-10N, Costa Rica / Venezuela)
  • Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
IUCN Red List
  • Not evaluated / Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 10
Depth Range Min
  • 140
Depth Range Max
  • 550