The southern blue devil (''Paraplesiops meleagris'') is a species of fish in the longfin 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 ...

endemic to southern

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 ...

. It is a close relative of the

eastern blue devil ''Paraplesiops bleekeri'', commonly known as the eastern blue devil, blue-tipped long-fin or Bleeker's blue devil fish, is a species of fish in the family Plesiopidae. This colourful, secretive fish is endemic to Australia, where it is a protec ...

(''Paraplesiops bleekeri''), which lives in the coastal waters of eastern Australia, and of the western blue devil (''P. sinclairi''), of southwestern

Western Australia Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...

with which it is sometimes considered conspecific.

Description

The fish grows to about 350 mm in length. It is generally deep blue, bluish, or blue-brown in colour with a scattering of brighter blue spots, with a long dorsal and large anal and pelvic fins.

Distribution and habitat

These fish are found along the southern Australian coastline, from

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...

to eastern

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India * Victoria (state), a state of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital * Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...

. They occupy reefs, ledges, crevices, and deep cave systems, at depths ranging from 3 to over 40 m, sometimes in small groups containing individuals of sizes varying from small juveniles to mature adults.

Behaviour

Breeding

Eggs are laid on a substrate and are guarded by the male until they hatch.

Feeding

They feed on fish and crustaceans.

References

External links

Fishes of Australia : ''Paraplesiops meleagris''
southern blue devil Marine fish of Southern Australia southern blue devil southern blue devil {{plesiopidae-stub