Hoplolatilus fronticinctus (Günther, 1887)
Pastel tilefish
Hoplolatilus fronticinctus
photo by Dubosc, J.

 Family:  Malacanthidae (Tilefishes), subfamily: Malacanthinae
 Max. size:  21 cm TL (male/unsexed)
 Environment:  reef-associated; depth range 40 - 70 m
 Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: off Kosi Bay in South Africa (Ref. 11228) eastward to the Solomon Islands, north to the Philippines, Palau, and the Marshall Islands (Ref. 33390).
 Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-13; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 12-12; Vertebrae: 24-24. Body pale olive-grey, darker above, belly pale blue; bluish violet band joining eyes across front of snout; lips and cheeks blue; upper 1/3 of pectoral fins bluish white, remainder pale yellow (Ref. 5591). This rare species has the deepest body in the genus and a thicker tail than H. cuniculus and H. starcki (Ref. 37816). Description: Greatest depth of body 3.5-4.2 in SL (Ref. 90102).
 Biology:  Inhabits sandy areas at bases of reefs (Ref. 9710). A rare species that schools above huge mounds of rubble that it apparently builds (up to 5.5 m long x 3 m wide over 1 m high). Solitary or in pairs (Ref 90102).
 IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated  (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:  Museum: Off Batangas, Luzon, BPBM 21109 (Ref. 9933). Also Ref. 33390.

 Entered by: Capuli, Estelita Emily - 12.06.92
 Modified by: Valdestamon, Roxanne Rei - 27.03.13
 Checked by: Capuli, Estelita Emily - 31.08.94

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