Southern blue devil

Southern blue devil
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Blenniiformes
Family:	Plesiopidae
Genus:	Paraplesiops
Species:	P. meleagris
Binomial name
Paraplesiops meleagris (Peters, 1869)
Synonyms
Plesiops meleagrisPeters, 1869 Ruppelia prolongata Castelnau, 1873 Bleeckeria catafractaCastelnau, 1873 Plesiops gigas Steindachner, 1883

The southern blue devil (Paraplesiops meleagris) is a species of ray-finned fish in the longfin family Plesiopidae. Endemic to southern Australia, it is a close relative of the eastern blue devil (P. bleekeri), which lives in coastal waters of eastern Australia, and of the western blue devil (P. sinclairi) of southwestern Western Australia.

Description

The southern blue devil grows to about 33 cm in length. The body is dark blue to bluish-grey and densely covered in brighter blue spots, and the dorsal, pelvic, anal and pelvic fins have a pale blue margin. The dorsal, anal and pelvic fins are relatively large. ^{[2] [3]}

Distribution and habitat

The southern blue devil is found along the southern Australian coastline, from South Australia to eastern Victoria. It occupies 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. ^[2]

Behavior

Breeding

Eggs are laid on a substrate and are guarded by the male until they hatch. ^[2]

Feeding

This species feeds on small fish, crabs and gastropods. ^{[2] [3]}

References

1. Williams, J.T. (2022). "Paraplesiops meleagris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2022 e.T214366294A214366300. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T214366294A214366300.en . Retrieved 5 March 2025.
2. "Southern Blue Devil". Animal species. Australian Museum. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
3. "Paraplesiops meleagris". fishesofaustralia.net.au. Archived from the original on 2025-04-05. Retrieved 2025-12-14.

External links

• Fishes of Australia : Paraplesiops meleagris