''Paraplesiops'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

containing five largely

allopatric Allopatric speciation () – also referred to as geographic speciation, vicariant speciation, or its earlier name the dumbbell model – is a mode of speciation that occurs when biological populations become geographically isolated from ...

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

fish A fish (: fish or fishes) is an aquatic animal, aquatic, Anamniotes, anamniotic, gill-bearing vertebrate animal with swimming fish fin, fins and craniate, a hard skull, but lacking limb (anatomy), limbs with digit (anatomy), digits. Fish can ...

es in the longfin, or roundhead, family

Plesiopidae The longfins, also known as roundheads or spiny basslets, are a Family (biology), family, Plesiopidae, which were formerly placed in the order Perciformes or considered indeterminate Percomorpha, percomorphs, but are now considered basal Blenniifo ...

, commonly known as blue devils, bluedevils, or blue devilfish because of their colouration. The genus is most similar to the tropical genera '' Plesiops'' and '' Fraudella''. It is restricted to subtropical and temperate rocky and coral reefs in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

n waters. Its species are mostly cryptic, occurring in submarine caves, crevices and under rocky ledges. ''Paraplesiops'' often hide unless food is available, they are very friendly fish unless around their prey. They eat small fish or crustaceans.

Species

There are five recognized species: * '' Paraplesiops alisonae'' Hoese and Kuiter, 1984 – Alison's blue devil * '' Paraplesiops bleekeri'' ( Günther, 1861) – eastern blue devil * '' Paraplesiops meleagris'' ( Peters, 1869) – southern blue devil * '' Paraplesiops poweri'' Ogilby, 1908 – northern blue devil * '' Paraplesiops sinclairi'' Hutchins, 1987 – western blue devil

References

Plesiopinae Marine fish genera Taxa named by Pieter Bleeker {{Plesiopidae-stub