Gramma brasiliensis

Common Name

Brazilian Gramma

Year Described

Sazima, Gasparini, & Moura, 1998

Identification

Dorsal Fin: XI-XIII, 9-11
Anal Fin: III, 10
Pectoral Fin: 14-17

Elongate with large eye. Jaw extends beyond posterior margin of orbit (distance of pupil diameter). First dorsal spine noticeably smaller in size compared to second. Pelvic fin long, reaches beyond anal fin orgin (not as long as G. loreto). Lateral line with two parts: the anterior portion on upper body and ending at last dorsal ray and the posterior portion on middle of caudal peduncle reaching anteriorly to middle of soft dorsal. Preopercle serrated. Procurrent caudal rays not thickened. Caudal fin emarginate to forked.

Color

Bright magenta to violet forebody, usually with more purple than in the Caribbean Royal Gramma. The posterior body and tail are bright yellow. The gradation between the colors is broader and more gradual, with an orangish appearance to the mid-body. There are no stripes passing through the eye. The body coloration continues onto the dorsal fin, with a purple submarginal stripe on the soft dorsal fin. A dark spot is present between the 2nd the 4th dorsal spines. Anal fin yellow with purple margin.

Size

Maximum length to 7cm.

Habitat

Coral reefs from 3-22m.

Range

Endemic to Brazil.

References

Mooi, R.D. 2002. Grammatidae. In: FAO Species Identification Guide to Fishes of the Western Atlantic. (ed. Carpenter K), pp. 1308–1369. UN FAO Publishers, Rome.

Sazima, I. , J. L. Gasparini, and R. L. de Moura. 1998. (Apr.). Gramma brasiliensis, a new basslet from the western South Atlantic (Perciformes: Grammatidae). aqua, Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology v. 3 (no. 1): 39-43.