''Assiculus'' is a genus of fish in the "dottyback" family
Pseudochromidae. It is monotypic, containing only ''Assiculus punctatus''.
It is a small species of
dottyback
The dottybacks are a family, Pseudochromidae, of fishes which were formerly classified in the order Perciformes or considered ''incertae sedis'' percomorphs, but are now considered basal blenniiforms. Around 152 species belong to this family.
...
which is covered in small, bright blue spots. The males are bluish in colour while the females are greenish-yellow and are smaller than the males.
''A. punctatus'' is found in coastal areas in the vicinity of reefs and weedy areas; normally in rather turbid waters as deep as . This secretive species frequents areas where there are highly eroded limestone reefs and rocks.
The genus and species were first published by
Sir John Richardson in an appendix to Volume 1 of
John Lort Stokes
Admiral John Lort Stokes (1 August 1811 – 11 June 1885) was a Royal Navy officer who served onboard for almost eighteen years.Although 1812 is frequently given as Stokes's year of birth, it has been argued by author Marsden Hordern that Stok ...
' 1846 ''
Discoveries in Australia
''Discoveries in Australia; with an account of the coasts and rivers explored and surveyed during the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, in the years 1837-38-39-40-41-42-43, by command of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Also a narrative of Capt ...
''.
The
specific name Specific name may refer to:
* in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database
In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules:
* Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...
''punctatus'' references the small blue spots on the dorsal part of the body and fins.
References
Fish of Australia
Marine fish of Western Australia
Pseudochrominae
Monotypic ray-finned fish genera
Monotypic marine fish genera
Taxa named by John Richardson (naturalist)
Fish described in 1846
{{Pseudochromidae-stub