Pseudochromis stellatus is the newest species of dottyback to be added to the roster of reef fish from Indonesia. This new Pseudochromis was collected from Batanta and Batu Hitam in the northern Raja Ampat Islands of West Papua Province, Indonesia at a depth of more than 50 meters deep, or 164 feet, so not a shallow water species at all.
If there’s one word to describe the Greenhead Dottyback, as its common name implies, is fairly pale with a greenish head. The fins are clear, the tail is unadorned and besides the yellow spots on its back there are no real defining features of this new dottyback to really make it stand out. However there does appear to be some similar species from Cebu, Milne Bay, and Cenderawasih Bay with much more color potential including a brighter yellow head.
It’s very rare that a new species of reef fish is so bland looking but perhaps this is simply because large adult or male specimens have yet to be found. The new Pseudochromis stellatus is described by Gill, Allen & Erdmann in the most recent volume of ZooTaxa.
