Common Name
Cuban Gramma
Year Described
Victor & Randall, 2010
Identification
Dorsal Fin: XII, 10
Anal Fin: III, 10
Pectoral Fin: 16
Elongate with large eye. Jaw extends to posterior margin of orbit. First dorsal spine similar in size to second. Pelvic fin long, sometimes reaches beyond anal fin orgin. 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.
Color
Bright golden yellow on entire head and body except for lower pelvic region and lower head, which is magenta to purple. Dorsal fin yellow except for purple area between spines 1-4, surrounding a black spot over spines 2-3. Pelvic fin magenta with a darker violet streak along the second ray. Anal and caudal fin yellow. Eye yellow.
Size
Maximum size to 32.3mm.
Habitat
Found in deeper water than G. loreto, usually >20m on deep reefs. Does not appear to swim upside down.
Range
Found only off S. Cuba.
References
Victor, B. C. and J. E. Randall. 2010. Gramma dejongi, a new bassslet (Perciformes: Grammatidae) from Cuba, a sympatric sibling species of G. loreto. Zoological Studies v. 49 (no. 6): 865-871.
Other Notes
Sympatric with Gramma loreto in S. Cuba but allopatric in depth range. The color pattern of G. dejongi is not seen in any other population of G. loreto in the rest of the Caribbean. Normal colored G. loreto are taken in the same region as this species. Genetic evidence shows little divergence, indicating a recent divergence of this species from G. loreto similar to the Hypoplectus hamlets. (Victor & Randall, 2010).