#fairy basslet
Common Facts:
Scientific name: Gramma loreto
Diet: Small crustaceans, parasitic organisms found on larger fish, plankton
Size: Up to 3 inches
Range: Western Atlantic Ocean—Florida to northern South America and the Caribbean Sea
Despite their tiny size, Fairy basslets are hard to miss. With their bright purple and yellow bodies, it’s easy to spot these darting flashes of color. Fairy basslets are coral reef inhabitants and can generally be found under ledges or in caves.
“Fairy basslets are known to swim upside-down under ledges and along cave ceilings. They live in colonies and defend their territory from other species and even from other fairy basslets. Male fairy basslets guard and care for the eggs and the nest.”
Males find and establish nest sites before they participate in spawning activity. They find small crevices and holes in the reef and line them with algae, to cover the opening. Then, at dawn, female basslets will come to the nesting sites and deposit their eggs in a nest. After 10-11 days, the male’s guard duty is complete and the eggs hatch. “Then the larvae are believed to proceed to the planktonic stage until they are sufficiently heavy to resettle on the reef.”
Something interesting about Fairy basslets is that they are all born female, but can change sex to male. Males are more colorful than females and darken when they are ready to mate. Males also become a little bit larger than the females.
Fairy basslets are a beautiful and fun fish to observe! Take the time to admire them if you ever happen upon them.
Sources:http://www.fishlore.com/Profiles_Fairy_Basslet.htm
http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/152728/
http://www.aqua.org/explore/animals/fairy-basslet
Written by: Kari Shirley, intern
I’m 3 inches long, purple and yellow, and live in coral reefs. Who am I? Common Facts: Scientific name: Gramma loreto Diet: Small crustaceans, parasitic organisms found on larger fish, plankton…
